Fellow Bears,
I am happy to announce the appointment of Dr. Lisa Vollendorf to serve as Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer at UNC, effective July 1, 2021. Lisa comes to UNC after most recently serving as a Special Advisor for Academic Continuity and Operational Planning in the Chancellor’s Office at the California State University System, the largest four-year higher education system in the nation. Prior to working in the Chancellor’s Office at the Cal State System, Lisa served as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Sonoma State University. Working in higher education for more than 25 years, Lisa has tremendous experience in academic leadership, faculty and student success, strategic communications, and crisis management. In her professional career, she has been a faculty member, department chair, Academic Senate chair, dean, and provost.
Lisa has roots in Colorado, having grown up in Summit County and earning her bachelor’s degree at Colorado State University. She went on to earn her master’s degree in Spanish and Latin American Literatures from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992 and her Ph.D. in Romance Languages from the University of Pennsylvania in 1995. Lisa is a published author who has also given many leadership presentations and guest lectures across the world.
I had the pleasure of working with Lisa at San Jose State for three years while I was Provost and she was Dean of Humanities and the Arts. Lisa is a seasoned administrator with a can-do attitude. She understands what it means to be a students first university and is cognizant of the importance faculty play in moving the institution forward. She was an excellent leader at San Jose State and the feedback we received from community members when she visited UNC was unanimously positive.
Lisa’s appointment as Interim Provost will be for one year – the university will launch a national search for a full-time Provost beginning this fall. Please join me in welcoming Lisa to UNC.
Rowing, Not Drifting,
Andy Feinstein
President
