News

UNCW Appoints Dr. James J. Winebrake as New Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Wednesday, April 08, 2020

Dr. James J. Winebrake has been named Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, effective July 1, 2020, the University of North Carolina Wilmington announced today. An award-winning educator and experienced administrator, Winebrake has served as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y., since 2011. 
 
“Dr. Winebrake is known for his innovative approach to management, commitment to faculty research and scholarship, and deep understanding of the value of liberal arts education,” Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli said. “UNCW has much to offer our faculty, students, staff and the State of North Carolina as one of the nation’s top public institutions, and he will fill a pivotal role in guiding our academic enterprise to even greater achievements in the years to come. He will also serve as a guiding light as we continue to navigate our transition to a doctoral high-research university.” 
 
As Provost, Winebrake will report to the chancellor 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. He will follow in the footsteps of Dr. Marilyn Sheerer, who will transition to the Watson College of Education in May after five successful years as UNCW’s top academic administrator.
 
At RIT, Winebrake 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. According to the Chancellor, Winebrake’s 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.
 
“UNCW is a fast-growing, dynamic and exciting coastal university that is on an amazing trajectory,” said Winebrake. “UNCW provides the opportunity to advance integrative, interdisciplinary programs in new fields that combine areas related to business, education, health, liberal arts and STEM. Creating new programs that cross disciplinary boundaries is a passion of mine, and UNCW is extremely well-positioned to be a national leader in this area.”
 
Winebrake noted that the quality of the faculty at UNCW drew him to the role of Provost. “I believe UNCW faculty are some of the most committed I have seen — to their students, their community, and their disciplines,” he said. “I am looking forward to working closely with the faculty to continue building a world-class educational experience for our students.”
 
Winebrake, 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, Winebrake 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. Winebrake was also recently recognized as a National Associate of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
 
The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal university, is dedicated to learning through the integration of teaching and mentoring with research and service. Guided by our Strategic Plan, the university is committed to nurturing a campus culture that reflects its values of diversity and globalization, ethics and integrity, and excellence and innovation. A public institution with an enrollment of nearly 17,500 students, the university is focused on supporting and enhancing the student-centered learning experience that has been a hallmark since its founding in 1947. As a doctoral university with high research activity, UNCW offers an array of programs at the baccalaureate and master’s levels, and doctoral programs in marine biology, educational leadership, psychology and nursing practice. UNCW is one of the 17 institutions that make up the UNC System.