Announcements from Dr. Burd

Aug. 18, 2023
Data

August 19, 2023

Dear Colleagues:

As we start the new Academic year, I have a several announcements.

  1. Effective Monday, August 21st, Lisa Elfring has been promoted to Vice Provost for Assessment, Teaching, and Technology (UCATT) and will continue to work closely with Melody Buckner, Associate Vice Provost for Assessment, Teaching, and Technology, but Lisa will now oversee UCATT. Lisa has also accepted the oversight of the University Assessment Council (UAC) as a permanent responsibility. Lisa will continue to report to me. Please join me in congratulating Lisa on the promotion!
  2. Melody Buckner, Associate Vice Provost for UCATT has been traveling and giving invited talks around the globe and spreading the good word about work at University of Arizona.  Melody is also an Assistant Professor of Practice in Teaching, Practice, and Sociocultural Studies in the College of Education where she been developing a certificate and master’s degree program focused on educational digital technology.
  3. Greg Heileman, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, who also oversees Academic Administration, will assume the administrative responsibility for UA-UAGC Integration working closely with Jane Hunter, six working groups, and our campus colleagues at UArizona and UAGC. Greg will continue to report to me for this and his other work.
  4. Last spring Christine Salvesen, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success and Retention Innovation was given the additional title of Chief Retention Officer to recognize her oversight of the excellent and extensive work she and a campus-wide team are doing to improve first year retention and undergraduate persistence to graduation. Please join me in congratulating Christine the recognition of her great work on student retention and persistence.
  5. Also, last spring, Kristin Winet, Program Manager for the Center for the Integration of Research Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) and lecturer in English, applied for, was reviewed, and offered the position of Associate Professor of Practice, Career Track, in UCATT. She continues to work with me on the oversight of CIRTL and has primary responsibility for the successful CIRTL Postdoc Pathway program to provide postdocs with just-enough and just-in-time preparation for teaching in a future faculty position. Thirty-one postdocs have participated in the program.  A paper on this project is in-press in College Teaching.
  6. Meg Lota Brown joined our team a little over a year ago as the Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and oversees the seven-year Academic Program Review process and reviews. Meg Lota reports to me for this new role.  Last spring, she was honored with selection as a University Distinguished Professor in English. Please join me in congratulating Meg Lota on this excellent recognition of her work over many years teaching and supporting undergraduate and graduate students on their journey through the University of Arizona. Meg Lota is also the Associate Dean for Professional Development in the Graduate College.
  7. Tina Deemer, Director of Academic Resources and Special Projects and I worked closely on the design of educational spaces in the renovated Chemistry building and the new Commons building, with instruction taking place in those spaces for the first time this fall. Also, Tina and the Classroom Committee completed a remodel of the auditorium spaces in the Koffler building just in time for classes this fall; the outcome is a bright and lovely lecture hall. Tina is also the Director for Academic and Student Support Services in Mathematics.
  8. Guada Lozano, Director for the Center for University Education Scholarship (CUES), that is funded almost exclusively by a very generous donor, was made an Endowed Director for CUES in recognition of the additional funding awarded to the CUES. Please join me in congratulating Guada for this impressive distinction. Guada is also an Associate Research Scientist (Continuing), Associate Professor of Practice (non-tenure), and Director of External Relations and Evaluation in Mathematics.
  9. Kate Bunton, Professor in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, joined our team last year as Director of Instructional Support to oversee and support the Faculty Learning Communities, run the Quick Start Learning Assistant Program, and develop and run a training program for departmental faculty on the use of meaningful peer observation of instruction. Kate also continues to teach and do research in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences.
  10. This past year, Kat Francisco, Senior Manager of Academic Affairs, provided essential work and support for the WSCUC accreditation submissions, site visit, and program approvals and listings on the WSCUC website this past year as well as supporting the UA-UAGC Coordination for the WSCUC Substantive Change Proposal. On top of this work, Kat completed her second master’s degree in Management and Information Systems with honors from the Eller College of Management. Please join me congratulating her on this achievement.
  11. Aidalee Montijo, Administrative Assistant, joined our team last spring to provide administrative support that allows Kat to assume a larger role in University Accreditation and UA-UAGC Integration. Aidalee received her BA in Law last spring, also earning an Accelerated Master’s degree in Law all while raising a ten-year old son.

We have a great team of talented, innovative, and hard-working professionals. I appreciate all that you do.

Best wishes for a successful fall semester,

Gail D. Burd, Ph.D.