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Douglas A. Hicks has served as �ؾ���’s provost and dean of the faculty since 2012.

Today, Douglas A. Hicks announced he will be concluding his term as �ؾ���’s provost and dean of the faculty at the end of this academic year. Next year, he will be taking a sabbatical leave and plans to focus on his scholarly work, including writing on leadership in higher education.

Since joining �ؾ��� in 2012, Hicks has been instrumental in many strategic initiatives across the university. He played a leading role in developing the and led the successful implementation of the plan’s four academic priorities: internationalization, technological innovation, civic engagement, and pedagogical development.

Hicks made important changes to revitalize the and led a collaborative effort toward raising to fund global partnerships, student exchanges, and faculty-student research in five regions of the world. He established new course-development grants to faculty for technology innovation, community-based learning, and diversity in the curriculum. He led platform edX and is collaborating with Hamilton College, Davidson College, and Wellesley College to shape an appropriate place for online learning in the liberal arts. He was also lead author on two grants that �ؾ��� received from the Mellon Foundation in support of technology and in the liberal arts.

Along with Dean of the College Suzy Nelson, Hicks led the Living the Liberal Arts strategic planning group that envisioned �ؾ���’s residential learning communities, which . In another collaboration with Nelson, Hicks wrote the major Mellon Foundation grant that .

“I am immensely grateful to be part of the �ؾ��� community,” said Hicks. “It has been a great honor to work as provost and dean of the faculty with President Herbst, my faculty colleagues, staff, students, trustees, and our alumni during this important time in �ؾ���’s history as we implement the strategic plan and work toward our shared goals and vision for �ؾ���. I look forward to my sabbatical and to continuing to contribute to �ؾ��� as a professor of religion.”

Under Hicks’s tenure, �ؾ��� saw an increase in the number of tenure-stream faculty lines, and improvements in both the student-faculty ratio and share of classes with fewer than 20 students. Hicks was instrumental in attracting new, strong, and diverse scholars to the faculty. In addition, he appointed �ؾ���’s first associate provost for equity and diversity, and established the as a direct report to the provost’s office.

“Over the last three years, Doug has provided strong leadership in numerous areas to advance �ؾ���’s academic mission,” said President Jeffrey Herbst. “He has been extraordinarily successful in partnering with Suzy Nelson to design the new residential learning communities, which will lead to unprecedented involvement of professors in student life. He has provided wise counsel to me on issues ranging from the positive conclusion of the 100-hour student demonstration in September to long-term challenges facing every college.”

Hicks also supported arts-related initiatives. He led the building committee for the $21 million , which will open in 2017, and led �ؾ���’s delegation to Australia in the .

Hicks, a professor in �ؾ���’s , has authored four books and edited five additional volumes on religion, ethics, and public leadership. Prior to coming to �ؾ��� in 2012, he was professor of leadership studies and religion at the University of Richmond and a recipient of the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia’s Outstanding Faculty Award.

Interim President-Elect Jill Harsin has selected , professor and chair of the Department of English, to serve as interim provost and dean of the faculty, effective July 1.

Harsh came to �ؾ��� in 1988, having received her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. She has been chair of her department since 2014, and was previously director of the Division of University Studies and University Professor of Core 152 and GNED 102. Her scholarly specialty lies in Victorian fiction, and she has published on the English industrial novel, the New Woman novel, and the fiction of George Gissing.

“With her deep knowledge of �ؾ��� and her long tenure of admirable service, Connie will bring invaluable experience and insight to the provost’s office,” Harsin said. “She is well suited for the role and will be instrumental in helping �ؾ��� move forward during this transitional period.”