Organizational Updates in the Office of the Provost

Dear students and colleagues,

Since joining the university almost two months ago as Provost, my priorities have been to understand our campus culture and learn about the vital work happening across the university. I have had the privilege of meeting with many students, faculty, and staff who make this university so special, and have been deeply impressed by the honesty, passion, and pride that define our campus community.

In these initial months, I have been particularly focused on how we can better align our organizational structure to support the meaningful connections and community engagement that are central to student success and our land-grant mission. I have completed five Provost conversations thus far and have heard the voices of passionate community members and staff whose insights and experience are providing me with invaluable information. Some of the themes I am hearing include the need for a more coordinated, seamless pathway to the many services and support we provide for students, consistent student-centered advising, utilization of the best practices that exist on campus, opportunities for mentorship and experiential learning, and ongoing communication about the changes taking place and the desired outcomes. I look forward to continuing these conversations through the summer and early fall. Please look for upcoming announcements for faculty and student opportunities to participate in these conversations.

Today, I want to share a few important updates in the Office of the Provost that will further strengthen how we support our students and engage with our communities on campus, across the state and beyond, and that are responsive to some of the themes I am hearing in the Provost conversations.

I am pleased to announce that the Office of Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement and the Office of Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives are now under the Office of the Provost. Marla Franco has been appointed Special Advisor to the Provost for Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives, and Levi Esquerra will serve as Special Advisor to the Provost for Native American Affairs. I look forward to supporting Marla and Levi in this unified academic leadership structure as we continue to serve students, strengthen research, and enhance community engagement rooted in our institutional mission and aligned with our strategic imperatives. They will be joining Jenna Hatcher, Vice Provost for Campus Community Connections and Special Advisor, as all three leaders support student success and engagement with the community.

Jenna is also making some new leadership appointments for the Campus Community Connections unit and the Student Culture and Engagement Hub. Thomas Harris will serve as Interim Executive Director, and Indira Arce will serve as Assistant Director for Campus Community Connections. Additionally, Jenna has completed the search for the new co-directors of the Student Culture and Engagement Hub, and an announcement will be forthcoming as soon as the hiring process is finalized. These leaders are well known and respected for their commitment to supporting students and for fostering welcoming environments that promote a strong sense of belonging. They will work closely with Jenna and me as we continue to build on this new unified framework where all communities are connected, valued, and able to thrive throughout their experience at the U of A.

I want to clarify for our U of A community that, in our new collaborative support model, the physical spaces remain in place, our embedded counselors continue to actively support our campus community groups within the spaces, and the same coordinators continue to be present and to facilitate programming.

I share these updates, which reflect our proactive approach to aligning and strengthening how we lead and operate across our units, as we navigate a time of profound transformation and unprecedented challenges across higher education. Changes often raise questions, and ongoing dialogue helps us build a shared understanding of why and how they are happening. Through open and respectful dialogue, even when we may disagree, we will find ways to deliver on our promise of success for every student and reinforce our commitment to belonging, inclusion, and academic excellence at the University of Arizona.

I look forward to continuing our conversations about how we can evolve our structure to better support student success and to learn more about your experiences and vision for our future together. Thank you for all that you do each day to be engaged members of our campus community and support this extraordinary institution.

Warmly,

Patricia Prelock
Provost and Chief Academic Officer

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