In October 2022, Ozlem Kilic agreed to serve in the Office of the Provost as interim vice provost for academic affairs. One of her first objectives was to create, structure, and grow an innovative new college, which we now call the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (CECS).

Ozlem then became the dean of CECS, in addition to serving as interim vice provost. In just one year, Ozlem has led development of three bachelor’s degrees that include multiple stackable certificates, connected CECS with industry leaders across the country, and attracted national attention for CECS as a model for innovation and workforce partnerships.

Ozlem and I have decided the time is right for her to devote her full attention to CECS and to her leadership of academic innovation efforts such as AI initiatives. I am deeply grateful for the time Ozlem has devoted to both roles and look forward to all that she and her team will accomplish with CECS. Under her leadership, I am confident CECS will reach and exceed its considerable potential.

Ozlem will retain the title of Dean of CECS and Vice Provost, but she will no longer oversee the functions of the Division of Academic Affairs and of Institutional Effectiveness.