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Susan Shadle named new vice provost for undergraduate studies

Portrait of Susan Shadle

Susan Shadle, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and executive director of the Center for
Teaching and Learning, has been named vice provost for undergraduate studies, effective July
1, 2020.

She will succeed Andrew Finstuen, who has served in an interim capacity since 2016 while also holding the position of dean of the Honors College.

Shadle earned her doctorate in inorganic chemistry at Stanford University and held a two-year postdoctoral research fellow position at Johns Hopkins University prior to joining Boise State in 1996. She was appointed the inaugural director of the Center for Teaching and Learning in 2006, named Carnegie Idaho Professor of the Year in 2015 and recognized as a Boise State Distinguished Professor in 2017, among numerous other honors and awards.

She has authored or co-authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and has secured more than $4.5 million in external funding as principal or co-principal investigator, primarily from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health. Her accomplishments in pedagogical innovations and faculty development are too numerous to list.

“I’m just delighted that Susan will be taking on this role,” said Interim Provost Tony Roark. “Everything she’s done as the leader of the CTL and as a teacher-scholar herself has prepared her to take on the challenges and opportunities that lie before us in improving access, equity and academic outcomes for our undergraduate students.”

The vice provost for undergraduate studies is responsible for leading campus-wide student success initiatives and oversees the offices of Academic Advising and Success Center, the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Institute for STEM and Diversity Initiatives, and the University Foundations program.

“I am excited to serve the university and our students in this new capacity. I look forward to working with stakeholders across the university to build on our current strengths and to find new ways to foster student success,” Shadle said.

Due to the hiring freeze in place at the university, Shadle will retain the title of executive director of the CTL until a successor is named. Until then, Teresa Focarille will support the day-to-day duties of the center as interim administrative director.