About Academic Affairs

The Office of the Provost, under the leadership of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, is responsible for developing, delivering and evaluating academic programs, as well as related policies and procedures. It is also responsible for the promotion, tenure, and retention processes, and other faculty related procedures.

The following campus administrators report to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs:

Senior Leadership Team

• Dean, Ann Murphy, Ph.D. College of Business
• Dean, John Masserini, DMA College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
• Dean, Hope Szypulski, Ph.D.  College of Health and Human Sciences
• Dean, Jeff Newcomer, Ph.D. College of  Aerospace, Computing, Engineering, and Design
• Dean, Elizabeth Hinde, Ph.D. School of Education
• Dean, Lynn Minnaert, Ph.D. School of Hospitality
• Associate Vice President, Cath Kleier, Ph.D. Faculty Affairs
• Associate Vice President, Shaun Schafer, Ph.D. Curriculum, Academic Effectiveness and Policy Development
• Associate Vice President, Terry Bower, MSW Innovative and Lifelong Learning
• Associate Vice President, Elizabeth Parmelee, Ph.D. Undergraduate Studies
• Associate Vice President, Inge Wefes, Ph.D. Graduate Studies
• Executive Director, Sam Jay, Ph.D. Digital Learning
• Executive Director, Laneika Musalini, Ph.D. Office of Sponsored Research and Programs

Office of the Provost staff:

• Neilsun Valenski, M.S., Budget Director for Academic Affairs
• Jill Lange, M.A., Executive Assistant to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Ryan Talley, Office Manager

What is a Provost? And What does a Provost do?

The provost is the University’s “Chief Academic Officer.” In a nutshell, that means it’s the provost’s job to oversee and advance the interests of undergraduate, graduate, and professional education at an institution of higher education. It’s the provost’s job to advocate for academic priorities; make sure we recruit and retain a superb and diverse faculty and staff; and marshal resources in support of excellent teaching, research, creative activities, effective wrap around student support services, and other institutional infrastructural needs. All faculty promotion and tenure decisions ultimately come through the Office of the Provost as recommendations to the President and the Board of Trustees.

At MSU Denver, all schools, colleges, and other academic units report to the Provost’s Office, as do Faculty Affairs, Graduate Studies, Undergraduate Studies, Academic Effectiveness, Curriculum & Policy Development, Online Learning, and Innovative and Lifelong Learning. The Provost’s Office is also responsible for ensuring the educational quality of the institution. This is achieved through regional accreditation (the Higher Learning Commission is MSU Denver’s regional accrediting body), and those academic programs which seek accreditation whether required (e.g., nursing, teaching) or desired (e.g., computer science, CIS, engineering technology).