Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs

The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) is responsible for ensuring the quality of the learning and living programs. The VPAA provides leadership and vision for the academic and student life divisions of the University. The position works closely with the President in articulating a vision for the University, in strategic planning, long-range financial planning, and in recommending major policy decisions to the Board of Trustees.

As the Chief Academic Officer of the University, the VPAA is responsible for providing leadership for all academic programs, the University’s libraries, centers and institutes; academic planning, policy, curriculum, faculty hiring and development, student learning assessment and accountability; providing the President with recommendations on faculty promotions and tenure; building espirit de corps between the administration and faculty, enhancing faculty development, providing leadership and resources to support research and curricular development, and insuring an effective pre-tenure and post-tenure faculty review system.

Within the Student Life & Development area, the VPAA leads initiatives to create a dynamic campus life and has oversight of the University’s Division I athletic program, residence life, personal development, recreational life, health services, dining services and student activities. The VPAA fosters the collaboration between academic affairs and student life in order to support the growth of the “whole person” and develops and implements policies that pertain to student life.

Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs

WeiDong Zhu, Ph.D., Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs
Christina Mortellaro, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and Assessment
Ruth Vazquez, Executive Administrative Assistant to the VPAA