A message from Dr. Susan Porter, Dean and Vice Provost, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and Prof. Andrew Szeri, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Vancouver
We are pleased to let you know that a new leadership position has been established to support the advancement of strategic academic initiatives in graduate and postdoctoral education at UBC Vancouver. Reporting to Dean and Vice-Provost of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the Assistant Vice-Provost, Graduate & Postdoctoral Strategic Academic Initiatives will work closely with other UBC Vice-Provosts, Deans, Associate Deans, and other senior leaders within and beyond G+PS on a full spectrum of academic and related initiatives to enable the University’s strategic ambitions in graduate and postdoctoral education. This role will help us to mobilize many identified areas of strategic action and create new opportunities to elevate UBC as a premier environment for diverse, innovative and impact-oriented graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Dr. Jenny Phelps will be appointed to this role, effective September 7, 2021. Dr. Phelps has over 20 years of experience as a senior academic administrator and strategic thought leader in higher education – at UBC and previously with the University of California, San Francisco. She obtained BA, MSc and PhD degrees at UC San Diego, University of Wisconsin-Madison and UBC, respectively. She is a co-founder of UBC’s Public Scholars Initiative and has been deeply involved in work related to reimagining the PhD, exploration of concurrent graduate-level microcredentials, and nearly all aspects of graduate education policy and strategy. Dr. Phelps has most recently served as Director of Transformation and Change Management with the UBC Integrated Renewal Program.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Phelps to her new role.