We are an inclusive academic community committed to excellence in the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge. We advance intellectual and creative discovery through transformative learning experiences that positively impact our lives and communities.
Dr. Bob Kolvoord
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
A Message from the Interim Provost
Dear Colleagues,
I hope you've had a successful reentry from Spring Break and the second half of the semester is off to a good start. I’m always heartened to see the tulips start to come out of the ground (must be something to do with my Dutch heritage). In Vermont, it’s currently the start of the fifth season of the year - “mud season”, so yes, please, to spring in Virginia.
I had a chance to spend some time at an academic conference last week (the American Association of Geographers). While the weather was bizarrely hot for San Francisco (800+), I was happy to catch up with some colleagues and share some research results. It was a reminder to me of the power of face-to-face connection – Zoom does not conquer all!
We’re close to the finish line on a number of big projects, and I’ll be sending an update in the next week or two. In the meantime, please join me in commending your colleagues on their recent recognitions. Congratulations to them all!
- Professor of Mathematics and Statistics Dr. Mindy Capaldi was selected to serve a two-year term as director of the Dolciani Mathematics Enrichment Grant (DMEG) program, which is administered by the Mathematical Association of America. With this appointment, Mindy, who also serves as the College of Science and Mathematics associate dean for faculty support and development, became part of the new MAA Outreach Grant Leadership Team.
- Kirk Armstrong, professor and academic unit head for Health Professions, was named a Distinguished Fellow in the Athletic Training Academy of the National Academies of Practice (NAP). Membership in the National Academies of Practice is an honor extended to those who have excelled in their profession and are dedicated to advancing interprofessional education, scholarship, research, practice and policy in support of interprofessional care. Fellow status recognizes members of the association who have demonstrated outstanding professional scholarly achievement in combination with leadership in advancing research and scholarly endeavors in the profession, including the education and scholarly development of trainees.
- Cynthia Chalupa, academic unit head for World Languages and Cultures and professor of German, received the Nelson H. Brooks Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Profession. The award “honors a passionate leader who has made significant contributions to the world language community layered from the local, state, regional and/or national levels” and has been given since 1968. The award is given by the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, a language organization representing the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
- Brian Leventhal, associate professor of Graduate Psychology was just honored by the National Council on Measurement in Education. NCME awarded him the Bradley Hanson Award for Contributions to Educational Measurement in acknowledgement of his contributions to the field and advancement of the goals embodied in his work. As the director for the Assessment and Measurement & Psychological Sciences program, Brian was recognized for his exceptional leadership in establishing and directing the Center for Assessment and Research Studies (CARS) Undergraduate Internship Program.
- Bill Lukens, associate professor in the Department of Geology and Environmental Science, received the President's International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI). PIFI promotes global research mobility by supporting outstanding international scientists in conducting substantive scientific and technological collaboration with Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) institutions.
I hope the week has gone well and the upcoming weekend holds some fun and relaxation in store. Before you head out for the weekend, please email provost@jmu.edu some highlights featuring you and your colleagues.
Sincerely,
Bob
Have Question for the Provost?
Academic Affairs faculty and staff can use the options below to contact the provost directly.
This is an open line of communication allowing faculty and staff to ask questions, but it is not a substitute from the crucial interactions they have with their academic unit head, department head and dean.
Students should contact AcademicQuestions@jmu.edu with questions.
