Launching the search for the senior vice provost for faculty and academic affairs

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to announce the launch of an internal search for the senior vice provost for faculty and academic affairs. 
This search follows Vice Provost Beth Lewis’s decision to return to her research and teaching in the College of Education and Human Development next spring. 

I hope you’ll join me in extending sincere gratitude to Dr. Lewis for her steadfast leadership and engagement with our faculty community over the past three years. She will continue serving as vice provost throughout the search process, ensuring steady leadership across all office initiatives.

Advocating for faculty through transformation

This senior academic administrative appointment is held concurrently with a tenured full professor position, targeted to begin in spring 2027. The senior vice provost serves as a principal advisor on faculty life, academic activities and University policy. 
As our University navigates ongoing headwinds, this role calls for an experienced, empathetic leader who can serve as a grounded advocate for faculty, a trusted partner to shared governance and a collaborative colleague to leaders across our campuses.

Beyond leading the Office of Faculty and Academic Affairs, the senior vice provost exercises delegated provostial authority, convenes the Vice Provost Council and mentors emerging academic leaders. We seek a tenured full professor with distinguished academic credentials, sound judgment, emotional intelligence and a proven track record of constructive leadership within a shared governance framework.

About the search

To respect internal talent and existing academic commitments, we will follow a focused internal search framework. This tailored approach emphasizes direct dialogue with key academic stakeholders — engaging campus leaders, deans, chancellors, department chairs, and faculty governance representatives across all five campuses through targeted interview sessions.

The nomination and application window is open through Friday, December 11, 2026. Qualified faculty from all five University of Minnesota campuses are strongly encouraged to apply, and nominations are welcome if you have a stellar University colleague in mind with the vision and drive for this new role.

The position profile and application instructions are available on the search webpage.

Thank you for your support in establishing long-term leadership for artificial intelligence at the University of Minnesota.

Sincerely,
Gretchen Ritter
Executive Vice President and Provost