Staff of the Provost's Office

Dr. Richard Starnes

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

828.227.7495
starnes@wcu.edu

The Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs serves as the Chief Academic Officer providing oversight of all educational programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral levels. The Provost fosters the development, preservation, dissemination and utilization of knowledge through effective teaching, learning, research, creativity and service, as well as all Academic Affairs initiatives. In addition, the Provost serves on the Chancellor’s Executive Council, Board of Trustees Academic Affairs and Personnel Committee, Faculty Senate and Planning Team and Internal Technology Planning Council; co-chairs Enrollment Planning Council; provides oversight of the Campus Master Plan, Strategic Plan and SACSCOC Reaffirmation; and leads the Provost Council.

Holli Stillman

Assistant to the Provost

828.227.3014
hbstillman@wcu.edu

The Assistant to the Provost provides direct support to the Provost including management of the calendar, correspondence, meeting preparation including Provost Council and the Board of Trustees Academic and Student Affairs Committee, as well as Academic Affairs special projects and initiatives. This position provides oversight and management of the Office of the Provost, is a member of the Provost's Executive Council, and serves as a liaison to Provost Council Assistants, as well as other entities on campus.

Linda Davis

Director, Academic Resources and Business Operations

828.227.2914
lcdavis@wcu.edu

The Director of Academic Resources and Business Operations provides oversight, coordination, development, and evaluation of multiple business operations for the division, including staffing and budgeting; analysis, evaluation, and creation of policies/procedures to improve management functions throughout the division; signature authority for the Provost for academic budget and staffing initiatives; oversight, guidance, and support to deans and other academic leadership regarding staffing and budgeting; strategic and visionary budget planning; serves as liaison between Academic Affairs and the Division of Administration and Finance; oversight of budgeting FTE allocation and assessment; provision of training and professional development for division’s budget/finance staff to include respective college budget officers.

Jenea Shuler

Director, Academic Resources and Business Operations

828.227.2914
shulerj@wcu.edu

The Director of Academic Resources and Business Operations provides oversight, coordination, development, and evaluation of multiple business operations for the division, including staffing and budgeting; analysis, evaluation, and creation of policies/procedures to improve management functions throughout the division; signature authority for the Provost for academic budget and staffing initiatives; oversight, guidance, and support to deans and other academic leadership regarding staffing and budgeting; strategic and visionary budget planning; serves as liaison between Academic Affairs and the Division of Administration and Finance; oversight of budgeting FTE allocation and assessment; provision of training and professional development for division’s budget/finance staff to include respective college budget officers.

Dr. Carol Burton

Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

828.227.7495
burton@wcu.edu

The Vice Provost for Academic Affairs manages the Center for Career and Professional Development, Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, and the Mountain Heritage Center. She also provides oversight to the Liberal Studies Program, Campus Theme, and the Intentional Learning Plan program and accompanying grants.  In addition, the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs serves on the Provost’s Executive Council and Provost's Counci, is the Academic Affairs liaison with the Education Advisory Board (EAB) and the AASCU American Democracy Project, is a member of the Cherokee-WCU Advisory Board, and serves as an ex- officio member of the Liberal Studies Committee.

Alei Coleman

Executive Assistant

828.227.3012
colemana@wcu.edu

This position provides direct support to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs including management of the calendar, correspondence, and committee support for the interdisciplinary Campus Theme Committee and the Liberal Studies Committee, as well as facilitating the Intentional Learning Plan Grants for student travel. This position serves as a liaison to the Undergraduate Studies Unit Administrative Assistants.

Dr. Carmen Huffman

Associate Provost for Academic Affairs

828.227.7495
chuffman@wcu.edu

The Associate Provost for Academic Affairs oversees faculty reappointment, tenure, promotion and post-tenure review processes, faculty credentials, new faculty orientation, faculty development, and coordinates distinguished and endowed professor networking and support.  The Associate Provost for Academic Affairs provides professional development and resources for academic department heads, including regular Department Head Workshops, is responsible for curriculum review and approval of courses and programs, oversees the faculty handbook, and serves as provost office liaison to Faculty Senate and academic program liaison to UNC General Administration. The Associate Provost for Academic Affairs chairs the Associate Deans Council, is a member of multiple committees and councils, and has administrative responsibility for the Office of the Registrar, Coulter Faculty Commons, Office of Global Engagement, Intensive English Program, Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines and Highlands Biological Station. 

Sara Yager Lloyd

Executive Assistant

828.227.2665
syagerlloyd@wcu.edu

This position provides direct support to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs including management of the calendar, correspondence, meeting preparation, as well as special projects and initiatives. This position supports tenure, promotion and reappointment, and post-tenure review processes, faculty credentials and the AA21 process, new faculty orientation, academic calendar, Associate Deans Council, Department Head Workshop, Chancellor’s Travel Fund, Visiting Scholar Program, Scholarly Development Assignment Program, and faculty H-1B Petitions.

Lindsey Brown

Administrative Support Specialist

828.227.3016
lbrown@wcu.edu

This position is the Curriculog administrator and provides direct support for our curriculum and approval processes; maintains the Provost Office website, Academic Affairs SharePoint sites, and supports numerous Academic Affairs related responsibilities such as: articulation agreements, university-wide committee lists, organizational charts, the Faculty Handbook, the Faculty Activity Database, and Faculty Senate.

Dr. Tim Metz

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Institutional Planning and Effectiveness

828.227.3046
tdmetz@wcu.edu

The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Institutional Planning and Effectiveness oversees the university's data reporting obligations and needs, including federal and state reporting, implementation of surveys, and data support for strategic decision-making, provides support for institutional accreditation and contributes to institutional space planning and management.

Dr. Jennifer Schiff

Director, Institutional Accreditation

828.227.2803
jsschiff@wcu.edu

The Director of Assessment & Accreditation leads and manages work related to both assessment and accreditation at the institutional level. On the assessment side, the Director is responsible for planning, organizing and coordinating university-level assessment processes for student learning and operational outcomes, overseeing the program review process for both academic programs and support units, and supporting Liberal Studies (general education) assessment. On the accreditation side, the Director is responsible for organizing and authoring accreditation documents, overseeing the document management process, and coordinating any accreditation-related campus visits or reviews. Additionally, the position serves as the institutional liaison for the university's accrediting agency.

Salem Niehaus

Administrative Support Specialist

828.227.2040
lniehaus@wcu.edu

This position provides support to the Office of Assessment & Accreditation. Responsibilities include meeting preparation, document management, and communications. They are the primary support contact for Liberal Studies Assessment, and also support accreditation processes, Xitracs, and other assessment projects..

Julian Monroe

Administrative Support Associate

828.227.3052
monroej@wcu.edu

The Administrative Support Associate provides administrative support for Program Review, Xitracs, and SharePoint administration. This position also supports general assessment and accreditation activities.