Vicky Wilkins has been named American University’s permanent provost and chief academic officer, University President Jonathan Alger announced in an email on April 24.
Wilkins, who was chosen after an extensive search process, has served as acting provost since the resignation of Peter Starr in the summer of 2023. She previously served in the School of Public Affairs as a senior associate dean for academic affairs, and later as the school’s dean.
Alger wrote that Wilkins stood out from the pool of candidates due to her ideas on how to best lead the University going forward.
“During the interview process, I was impressed with Vicky’s forthright assessment of our opportunities, our challenges, and our shared path to even greater success for American University,” Alger wrote in the email.
During her time as SPA dean, the school’s undergraduate and graduate enrollment “increased by 60 percent” and faculty experienced 58 percent growth in “externally funded research” between 2019 and 2023. Wilkins raised more than $26 million and established the SPA Student Emergency Fund and the SPA First-Generation Guide Program, according to the email.
Alger also credited Wilkins as being influential in the naming of AU as an R1 research university. The University was officially classified as R1 in February.
“As a partner to me, Vicky will be central in our strategic planning and decision-making,” Alger wrote. “She is a tireless advocate for our faculty and their impactful scholarship, and Vicky will continue elevating AU’s academic prowess and bolstering the innovative approaches that make AU distinct and transformative.”
Alger asked the AU community to welcome Wilkins to her new position and wrote that he looks forward to forging the future of the University with her.
This article was edited by Tyler Davis and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks and Olivia Citarella.
