New assignment
Ann Ardis named senior vice provost for graduate, professional education
10:41 a.m., Jan. 28, 2016--Ann Ardis has been named senior vice provost for graduate and professional education at the University of Delaware, effective Feb. 1, Provost Domenico Grasso announced today.
Ardis became interim vice provost in September, following Jim Richards’ return to the classroom and laboratory. The official job title has been changed from vice provost to senior vice provost to reflect a much broader scope of responsibilities.
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Prior to that, she was the deputy dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and director of the Interdisciplinary Humanities Research Center (IHRC) at the University of Delaware. At this time, her role with IHRC will not change as part of the new appointment.
“Ann brings a commitment to excellence, years of valuable administrative experience, and an interdisciplinary philosophy that will greatly help us shape our graduate curriculum and also identify the right mix of educational offerings for working professionals,” said Grasso.
“She is a proven leader and innovative thinker with a deep commitment to multidisciplinary scholarship, inclusive excellence and the graduate student experience,” said Charlie Riordan, deputy provost for research and scholarship, who led the internal search committee.
Riordan, who co-leads the Delaware Will Shine working groups, added, “As we integrate the priorities of the strategic plan into our work, Ann’s leadership and vision will be important in driving and measuring our successes.”
“It is a privilege to serve in this role,” said Ardis. “Our team will continue to work collaboratively with faculty, staff and students in meeting the challenges we face as a leading research university.”
Additionally, she said, “The graduate and professional programs we develop are essential levers in helping drive the success of Delaware Will Shine, our diversity and inclusion and ADVANCE initiatives, as well as the overall research excellence we maintain at the University of Delaware.”
The senior vice provost for graduate and professional education reports to the provost and works closely with deans, department chairs and graduate program directors to provide leadership supporting the continued enhancement of graduate and professional education and postdoctoral studies.
In partnership with the deans, the senior vice provost promotes inclusive excellence in graduate and professional education across campus and works to enhance support for graduate student services.
The senior vice provost also works to increase funding opportunities, strengthen and expand interdisciplinary and cross-college collaborative programs, develop new high-profile initiatives that build on the University’s strengths, and promote the national and international visibility of current graduate students and graduate alumni.
About Ann Ardis
Ardis joined the UD faculty in 1989 as an assistant professor of English and was appointed associate professor in 1993 and professor in 2002. She served as director of graduate studies in English (1994-98) and director of the Honors Program (1998-2002) before being asked to serve as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 2002, director of the IHRC in 2009 and deputy dean in 2011.
In 2012-13, she served as interim deputy provost for the University. In 2013-14 she served on both the Responsibility Based Budget Review Task Force and the Carnegie Engaged University Task Force.
A leader of long standing within the college, Ardis has published extensively on turn-of-the-20th-century British literature and culture. She recently concluded service as one of three co-editors of Modernism/modernity, a top-tier interdisciplinary modernist studies journal published by the Johns Hopkins University.
Book publications include: Modernism and Cultural Conflict (Cambridge, 2002); New Women, New Novels: Feminism and Early Modernism (Rutgers, 1990). Edited special issues and co-edited collections include: “Mediamorphosis: Print Culture and Transatlantic/Transnational Public Spheres” (Modernism/modernity, September 2012); Transatlantic Print Culture: 1880-1940: Emerging Media, Emerging Modernisms (Palgrave, 2008); Women’s Experience of Modernity (Johns Hopkins, 2002); Virginia Woolf: Turning the Centuries (Pace, 2000).
Ardis received a bachelor's degree in English (with honors) and political science from the University of Kansas in 1979. She earned her master's degree and doctorate from the University of Virginia in 1982 and 1988, respectively.
Article by Jawanza Ali Keita