The challenge of filling a key position in Viterbo University leadership has been turned into an opportunity for growth and progress.
The resignation last spring of Tracy Stewart, the university’s vice president of academic affairs, has resulted in a new leadership structure designed to strengthen the connection between academic affairs and student affairs.
There is a growing trend in higher education to link student affairs and academic affairs under one provost or vice president. This restructuring also fits with a priority set out in the university’s strategic plan: “focus on student success through an integrated experience linking strong academics with co-curricular and student life programming such as leadership development, service, career development, athletics, seminars, research, honors, arts experiences and more.”
Rick Trietley, vice president of student affairs, has been named interim provost for 2020-21, and Sara Cook, dean of the College of Education, Engineering, Letters, and Sciences, has been appointed associate interim provost for 2020-21.
Under the new structure, deans will report to both Trietley and President Glena Temple on curricular, budget. and personnel matters, and deans will assume greater responsibility.
Trietley will provide leadership for academic affairs and the remainder of the direct reports in academic affairs. Cook will collaborate with Trietley on coordinating Dean’s Council, represent academics, and provide key leadership on several councils, strategic plan initiatives, and committees.
Cook also will provide key mentorship for Frank Ludwig, who has been appointed interim dean of the College of Business, Performing Arts, and Leadership, and she will provide leadership in expanding the impact of the recently launched Center for Professional Learning and Development within business and into broader areas of campus as part of this interim role.
Trietley and Cook will get feedback from the Viterbo community in the fall and work collaboratively to propose a modified structure or a new structure that promotes integrated student success across academics and student affairs.
Kirsten Gabriel, who was director of student life, will take up new responsibilities as assistant vice president for student affairs.
Temple expressed her gratitude to Trietley and Cook for stepping into these new roles.
"Together, they are a powerful team to lead us through a very challenging time,” Temple said. “We have tremendous leaders at Viterbo, and I’m confident in our ability to navigate this environment, and to become stronger as a result.”
