Pam Matthews Appointed Vice Provost For Academic Affairs

Dr. Karan L. Watson, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs:

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Pamela R. Matthews, associate provost for undergraduate studies, has accepted the position of vice provost for academic affairs, effective June 1, 2011. She replaces Dr. J. Martyn Gunn who previously announced his intention to return to the faculty of the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.

Dr. Matthews, a professor of English, joined the Texas A&M University faculty in 1989. In addition to serving as interim associate provost for undergraduate studies and associate provost for undergraduate studies, her administrative experience includes service as associate dean for undergraduate programs in the College of Liberal Arts, associate head of the Department of English, and director of Women’s Studies (now Women’s and Gender Studies), all at Texas A&M.

After completing a B.A. in English from the University of Houston and an M.A. in English at Texas A&M University, Dr. Matthews attended Duke University, where she received a Ph.D. in English with a specialization in American literature. Her scholarly publications include Ellen Glasgow and a Woman’s Traditions, Aesthetic Subjects (coedited with David McWhirter), and Perfect Companionship: Ellen Glasgow’s Selected Correspondence with Women. Teaching recognitions at Texas A&M University include a Center for Teaching Excellence-Montague Scholars Award, a college-level Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching, and a Robert M. Gates Inspiration Award in recognition of her work with undergraduate Regents’ Scholars.

As vice provost, Dr. Matthews will provide leadership for campus-wide initiatives that span both graduate and undergraduate studies, such as accreditation and curricular alignment. Her primary areas of concentration will be: academic effectiveness, support for high-impact educational experiences (such as the many forms of experiential learning: international, research, service), and accountability. She will also serve as a facilitator across these efforts in concert with the colleges, departments, and divisions of the university, as well as with off campus partners, including other educational institutions.

I have asked Dr. Christine A. Stanley, vice president and associate provost for diversity, to serve as interim associate provost for undergraduate studies until a successor for Dr. Matthews has been identified. To that end, I have begun to assemble a search committee that will be led by Dr. Karen Butler-Purry, associate provost for graduate studies. It is our intent to fill the associate provost’s position before the beginning of the fall 2011 semester. The names of the members of the search committee together with a position description and information about the application process will be announced in the near future.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Matthews on her appointment.