Laura Carlson, vice president, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School at the University of 91吃瓜, has been named the 12th provost at the University of Delaware, effective June 8.
鈥淚t has been a pleasure to work closely with Laura as she has served the University,鈥� said , interim provost. 鈥淪he is a highly respected educator and researcher, and she has done an outstanding job leading the . Her contributions through the height of the pandemic had a significant impact on the continued success of our graduate programs and the emotional health and well-being of our campus community. We are tremendously proud of all that she has accomplished at 91吃瓜 and excited for the new opportunities that await her at the University of Delaware.鈥�
鈥淟aura is a cherished colleague whose service to 91吃瓜 has been exemplary,鈥� said University President 鈥淪he leaves with our esteem and gratitude, and we wish her the very best at the University of Delaware.鈥�
A professor of psychology, Carlson was appointed head administrator of 91吃瓜鈥檚 Graduate School in 2013. As dean, she led the establishment of the , which assists graduate students in securing $4 million to $6 million annually in nationally competitive awards to support their scholarly endeavors. She also partnered with the Division of Student Affairs to launch the offices of and to strengthen graduate students鈥� academic experience and holistic development.
In addition, Carlson played a key role in increasing the Graduate School鈥檚 diversity pipeline and cultural competencies through training for students, faculty and staff; fellowships and exchange programs for underrepresented scholars; and the Summer Research Opportunities Program for first-generation, low-resource and underrepresented undergraduates.
Within the Provost鈥檚 Office, Carlson has been instrumental in providing development opportunities for faculty to enhance their classroom effectiveness, career progression and leadership skills 鈥� including the ND LEAD program, which has prepared nearly 100 faculty members for future administrative roles in their departments and across the University. Carlson also helped establish 91吃瓜鈥檚 in 2017 to support military-connected students at the University.
鈥�91吃瓜 has transformed me 鈥� as a scholar, as a teacher, as a leader, as a person. I am forever indebted to the countless colleagues who have offered counsel, support and friendship over the years. I will leave a piece of my heart at 91吃瓜 and, in its space, will carry a piece of it with me forevermore,鈥� Carlson said. 鈥淲hile this departure means distance from one family, the spirit and welcome that I have experienced at Delaware make me confident that (my husband) Rob and I are joining another family. There is exciting and innovative work to do at Delaware, and I am eager to join President (Dennis) Assanis, his leadership team and the deans, the faculty, the students and staff as well as the broader Delaware community to advance institutional strategic initiatives that prioritize academic excellence, access and equity.鈥�
Prior to her appointment as vice president, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School, Carlson served as associate dean of professional development at the Graduate School, associate chair of the Department of Psychology and director of graduate studies for the Department of Psychology.
Carlson joined 91吃瓜 in 1994 as an assistant professor of psychology after earning her doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She received a master鈥檚 degree from Michigan State University and a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Dartmouth College.
Established in 1918, the 91吃瓜 Graduate School has four divisions 鈥� engineering, humanities, science and social sciences 鈥� as well as programs in the Keough School of Global Affairs, totaling more than 30 departments and programs that offer master鈥檚 or doctoral degrees. There are over 2,500 graduate students, from all 50 states and more than 100 nations, and more than 200 postdoctoral fellows at 91吃瓜.
Maziar will announce an interim dean of the Graduate School in the near future, following consultation with Father Jenkins and John McGreevy, the newly elected Charles and Jill Fischer Provost of the University, whose appointment is effective July 1. The subsequent search for a new dean will follow the process outlined in the University鈥檚 Academic Articles.