Becoming A Provost Academy
This yearlong program provides comprehensive preparation in the areas of most critical concern to provosts.
Apply by Feb 10.
Prepare to lead as provost.
The Becoming a Provost Academy (BAPA) is a leadership program tailored to the distinctive needs of aspiring provosts (chief academic officers). Co-sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI), this yearlong program provides comprehensive preparation in the areas of most critical concern to provosts. BAPA also helps participants gain a better understanding of the broader context within which their own institutions operate and develop perspectives beyond their current position, division, and institution.
Who Should Participate
- Experienced deans, assistant or associate provosts, and other academic affairs senior administrators who aspire to become a provost/chief academic officer
How You’ll Benefit
- Comprehensive preparation in the areas of most critical concern to provosts
- Professional Experience Plan (PEP), which assesses the strengths as well as the opportunities in the preparation of individual participants
- A strong and supportive network of peers and mentors.
What to Expect
BAPA is a leadership development program to prepare experienced academic administrators for provost/vice president for academic affairs positions in public higher education.
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion discussions integrated throughout
- Mentoring and Executive Coaching
- Opportunity for real-time application and impact of tools and trainings via a Professional Experience Plan
- Strong relational component—commitment to create and support trust, encourage peer-to-peer learning, confidentiality, and safety among the cohort
- Comprehensive preparation in the areas of most critical concern to provosts
- Participants will prepare a Professional Experience Plan (PEP) working with campus mentor.
Programming will be delivered in a blended format, with in-person and virtual programming. In-person programming will not be livestreamed or otherwise recorded. 100% attendance and participation is expected.
- Two in-person seminars (July 17-18, 2025, Indianapolis, IN and July 2026) which will be held in conjunction with the AASCU Summer Meeting for Academic and Student Affairs Leaders
- Regularly scheduled virtual workshops (August 2025 – June 2026)
- The creation of a Professional Experience Plan (PEP), a highly individualized plan of activities developed by the participant and their mentor
- Mentorship by both the participant’s campus mentor and the program director designed to fill the identified gaps in the participant’s expertise and experience
- Applications that are complete, including an endorsement from a president/chancellor or provost who will serve as the participant’s mentor, and submitted by February 9, 2025 will be considered.
- AASCU and AALI staff review applications and select a cohort that reflects the diversity of AASCU institutions.
- Admissions preference will be given to applicants currently employed at AASCU member institutions.
- If space allows, consideration will be given to participants from institutions serving in other higher education sectors.
- Endorsement from the president/chancellor or provost from your home institution
- Nominee’s curriculum vitae
- Clear and concise summary of your personal and professional development goals
- Commitment to 100% participation
Seminars are led by a teaching faculty of AASCU provosts, AASCU presidents and chancellors, and other national subject matter experts.
- The program fee for the 2025-2026 academic year is $4,455 per applicant.
- The registration fee covers program administration, meals during the in-person seminars, all materials, and registration to attend the AASCU 2026 Academic Affairs Summer Meeting after Closing Seminar.
- Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation to/in both seminar locations.
- Limited scholarships are available to accepted applicants from qualifying institutions. Preference will be given to nominees from under-resourced institutions that otherwise would be unable to support a participant.
Testimonials
The BAPA program was an exhilarating opportunity for me to learn from seasoned provosts and develop new networks from colleagues within my class and among the alumni and facilitators. I found the one-year formal experiential plan, mentoring conference calls, and follow-up meetings during the AASCU conferences to be of tremendous value for me during my executive development journey in higher education.
BAPA was a truly unique leadership program. It provided intensive training, development, and mentoring targeted toward preparing candidates to be an effective and successful provost at a state college or university. In addition, the network of BAPA alums is extensive and supportive. I highly recommend this outstanding leadership program.
BAPA is an exciting opportunity to explore university administration from a different angle. The speakers all generously gave their time, expertise, and insight! It was a great year that went too fast!
The BAPA program provides a blend of structured programming and customized experiences to ensure that participants have an excellent experience. The opportunities provided to me to visit peer institutions and learn from colleagues were invaluable to me. The generosity of facilitators and invited speakers in candidly sharing lessons learned was a much-appreciated gift for all of us who were part of the program.
2024-2025 Cohort
Jeanette
Altarriba
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Psychology
University at Albany, State University of New York
Roshunda L.
Belton-Cardoza
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Grambling State University (LA)
Shawn
Boyne
Associate Vice Chancellor
University of Minnesota Crookston
Tucker
Brown
Senior Vice Provost/Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Austin Peay State University (TN)
Alicia
Bryan
Associate Provost and Associate Vice President of Faculty Affairs and Academic Innovation
Columbus State University (GA)
Mark
Davies
Dean, School of Education, Human Ecology, and Sports Studies
State University of New York at Oneonta
Hope Smith
Davis
Dean, School of Education
Indiana University South Bend
Elvin
Delgado
Associate Dean of Faculty Development, Research, & Interdisciplinary Initiatives
Central Washington University
David
Eplion
Dean, School of Business
Indiana University Southeast
Jorge F.
Figueroa Flores
Vice Provost for Curriculum and Strategic Initiatives
Texas Woman’s University
Valerie L
Giddings
Senior Vice Provost
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Danica G.
Hays
Dean and Professor
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Lauren
Ingraham
Vice Provost
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Emily J.
Isaacs
Executive Director, Faculty Excellence
Montclair State University (NJ)
Jeffrey
Johnson
Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
Ju
Kim
Dean of the College of Science and Health
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Audeliz
Matias
Interim Dean of the School for Graduate Studies
State University of New York, Empire State University
Matt
Matthews
Senior Vice Provost of Academic Affairs
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Clare
Muhoro
Associate Provost for Academic Affairs
Towson University (MD)
Sudesh
Mujumdar
Dean of the Romain College of Business
University of Southern Indiana
Gabriela
Olivares-Cuhat
Associate Dean of Research and Innovation
University of Northern Iowa
Karin
Pafford Hartman
Dean
Valdosta State University (GA)
Brian
Payne
Vice Provost
Old Dominion University (VA)
Terence J.
Pitre
Dean
California State University, Stanislaus
Latha
Ramakrishnan
Dean, College of Science and Technology
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Shani N.
Robinson
Associate Dean – College of Business Administration
Sam Houston State University (TX)
Cristóbal
Rodríguez
Associate Provost for Equity-Centered Initiatives in Academic Affairs
Western Michigan University
Charline Barnes
Rowland
Division Chair
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Michael
Scott
Dean of Science
Salisbury University (MD)
Vedaraman
Sriraman
Vice Provost for Academic Innovation and Success
Texas State University
Staci
Stone
Vice Provost of Academic Affairs
Jacksonville State University (AL)
Nicole Yvette
Strange-Martin
Dean – College of Education
Alabama State University
Micheal
Stratton
Dean, J. Whitney Bunting College of Business
Georgia College & State University
Sarolta A.
Takács
Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences
City College of New York, College of Staten Island
Charles
Tedder
Dean
Metro State University (MN)
Deborah
Thien
Dean
California State University, Long Beach
Lucia
Vazquez
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation
University of Illinois Springfield
Cheryl A.
Wilson
Dean, School of Arts & Sciences
State University of New York College at Old Westbury
Our Partner
Applications and endorsements for our 2025-2026 BAPA cohort are due on Feb. 10, 2025.
Application Details
A full submission requires the candidate to submit an application form and an endorsement from the president/chancellor or provost from their home institution.
Application Requirements
- Experienced deans, assistant or associate provosts, and other academic affairs senior administrators who aspire to become a provost/chief academic officer
- Endorsement from the president/chancellor or provost from your home institution
Important Dates
- The 2024 program will take place starting July 2025–July 2026
- The deadline for applications and endorsements is February 10, 2025
