Three Women Appointed to Provost Positions at State Universities

Marsha A. Pollard has been appointed provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, effective May 16. Dr. Pollard currently serves as provost of Berkeley College, a multi-campus college with five locations in New York and New Jersey. She previously held top-level posts at American International College, Stony Brook University, and New York University.

“It is quite evident that UNCP is committed to ensuring excellence and relevancy in its academic offerings and to providing its students with a high-quality education that is accessible, affordable, and empowers them to pursue lifelong learning, prepares them for professional success, and promotes the development of socially responsible citizens and leaders,” Dr. Pollard said. “I am enthusiastic about promoting inclusive excellence and the social mobility of our students.”

A first-generation college graduate and a descendant of the Arawak Tribe, Dr. Pollard immigrated with her parents from Guyana when she was four years old. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Florida. Dr. Pollard earned a master’s degree in higher education administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from New York University.

Dorothy Campbell was appointed interim provost and chief academic officer at New Mexico State University. Dr. Campbell most recently served as interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at Texas A&M University. Earlier, she served as interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Frostburg State University in Maryland.

“I am very excited about coming to New Mexico State University for so many reasons,” Dr. Campbell said. “I’m excited because it’s a Hispanic-serving institution, and I love what I’m seeing about that in the university’s strategic plan – the values and goals represented there – because those are near and dear to my heart. I not only work in diversity, that’s just who I am and the way that I live – it’s something to which I have dedicated my life.”

Dr. Campbell earned a bachelor’s degree in speech education from Southeast Missouri State University. She holds a master’s degree in speech communication from Central Missouri State University and a Ph.D. in education with an emphasis in speech from Ohio State University.

Vini Nathan has been named interim provost and vice president of academic affairs at Auburn University in Alabama. She is dean and holds the McWhorter Chair in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction at the university. Before joining the faculty at Auburn in 2011, Dr. Nathan was dean and professor in the School of Architecture at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

“I am honored to be named the interim provost,” Dr. Nathan said. “I am excited to partner with Auburn’s students and faculty to continue to advance the university’s world-class academic reputation, unparalleled student experience, and robust research and outreach mission.

Dr. Nathan is a graduate of Anna University in India. She holds a master’s degree in interior design from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. in architecture from the University of Michigan.