Dear Campus Community:

I am pleased to announce that Dr. James J. Winebrake has been named Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, effective July 1, 2020. An award-winning educator and experienced administrator, Jamie is known for his innovative approach to management, commitment to faculty research and scholarship, and deep understanding of the value of liberal arts education. I believe he will be an excellent successor to Provost Sheerer, to whom we will continue to be grateful long after she transitions to the Watson College of Education in May.

As Provost, Jamie will report to me and will oversee all academic units of the university, helping to advance UNCW’s mission in the areas of teaching, scholarship, research, engagement and creative activity. His expertise will be invaluable as UNCW continues to focus on curriculum efforts; foster innovation and entrepreneurship; ensure a continued investment in diversity, access, and inclusion efforts; and engage alumni and community supporters. He will also be a guiding light as we continue to navigate our transition to a doctoral (high research activity) university.

Since 2011, Jamie has served as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y. In that capacity, he advanced student learning and faculty scholarship across the college’s social science, humanities, performing arts and interdisciplinary programs. The initiatives he focused on at RIT included integrating liberal arts and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); building and sustaining community partnerships; emphasizing diversity and inclusion; expanding the performing arts; and advancing faculty scholarship. At each stage of our national search for UNCW’s next provost, these efforts resonated with our students, faculty, staff and campus leadership.

Jamie, a professor of public policy, joined the faculty at RIT in 2002. He holds a Ph.D. in energy management and policy from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. in technology and policy from M.I.T., and a bachelor’s degree in physics from Lafayette College. He has achieved international recognition for his scholarly research related to the environmental impacts of transportation. He arrived at RIT to chair the Department of Public Policy, a position he held until becoming dean of the College of Liberal Arts. In 1995, Jamie began his academic career as an assistant professor of integrated science and technology at James Madison University, where he was later promoted to associate professor. He is a past recipient of numerous awards for his teaching and scholarship, including the RIT Trustees Scholarship Award, granted to faculty who have made exceptional contributions in their field. Jamie was also recently recognized as a National Associate of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Please join me in thanking our search committee, co-chaired by Dr. Nathan Grove, Vice Chancellor Miles Lackey, and Vice Chancellor Patricia Leonard. I want to commend all of the committee members for their diligent efforts to help us recruit a number of talented finalists for the role of Provost. I also want to thank Sue Johnson in Vice Chancellor Leonard’s office for her support and her deft management of the logistics of this search.

Jamie will be following in some big footsteps; Dr. Sheerer is a consummate leader, a person of integrity, and a dedicated educator who has always been committed to helping students and faculty achieve excellence in everything they do. I am eager to see how Jamie can build upon the success that Marilyn has achieved, although, personally and professionally, I will miss working directly with Marilyn in leading our terrific institution.

I look forward to working closely with Jamie as we continue to enhance and expand UNCW’s strengths. We have much to offer our faculty, students, staff and the State of North Carolina as one of the nation’s top public institutions, and Jamie will fill a pivotal role in guiding our academic enterprise to even greater achievements in the years to come. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Jamie Winebrake to UNCW as our new Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Sincerely,

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