Catherine Paden Will Be the Next Provost at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire

Catherine Paden has been selected to serve as the next provost and vice president for academic affairs at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire. She will take on her new duties on July 1.

“I was immediately drawn to Franklin Pierce University by the richness of its academic programs, the passion of its faculty, the impact it is making in important arenas like health care and its commitment to provide an inclusive environment that welcomes and celebrates all students,” said Dr. Paden. “I look forward to contributing to the exciting work to come.”

Franklin Pierce University enrolls 1,600 undergraduate students and slightly more than 500 graduate students, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Education. Women make up 55 percent of the undergraduate student body.

Dr. Paden currently services as deputy provost at Simmons University in Boston. She joined Simmons in 2006 as an assistant professor in the department of political science and international relations. She earned tenure in 2012 and became the chair of the department. Dr. Paden was named dean of undergraduate programs in 2016 and continues in that role today. In 2017, she was given the added duties as associate provost and three years later, was promoted to deputy provost.

Dr. Paden is a graduate of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. She earned a Ph.D. in political science from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.