Elizabeth A. Dooley, an associate provost at West Virginia University, has been named vice provost for Teaching and Learning at UCF and dean of the newly formed College of Undergraduate Studies, formerly the Office of Undergraduate Studies.
Dooley, who served as an associate provost for undergraduate academic affairs at West Virginia University since 2009, starts her duties at UCF in September.
Dooley will oversee the new Teaching and Learning division in the office of Academic Affairs. Academic Affairs is responsible for creating and supporting an environment that promotes the university’s academic endeavors.
The new division was developed to better align efforts to empower students to become life-long learners. The division oversees interdisciplinary studies, innovative new academic programs, and the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, and will work closely with UCF’s involvement in academia consortiums and alliances, including the University Innovation Alliance and the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities.
“The undergraduate academic experience is fundamental in creating life-long learners,” Dooley said. “I’m excited for this new opportunity and plan on growing the unit by taking advantage of all the incredible assets at UCF, as well as forging ahead to create an environment where new and innovative things happen. It is my intention to afford students an integrated, innovative, value-added educational journey that will position them to be competitive in the 21st century.”
While at WVU, Dooley founded the University College. The college is an undergraduate student-success and academic unit that includes academic advising, undergraduate research, service-learning and first-year experience, and multidisciplinary degree programs among other departments with the aim of empowering students to learn.
In her role as the dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies she will be responsible for enhancing, complementing, strengthening and supporting undergraduate education across the university. The office was elevated to a college to focus on moving to a 21st-century model of undergraduate education with an emphasis on excellence and innovation. As a result of the change, students who are part of undergraduate studies program will begin earning degrees awarded by a college, rather than an office in December 2015.
Dooley is a champion of helping students achieve. As a faculty member and later an administrator in WVU’s College of Human Resources and Education, she launched new educational outreach programs for students and the community, created online programs for elementary and secondary education advanced programs and reading, and worked with the local school district on diversity workshops for faculty and public school teachers. She holds a doctorate in special education and educational leadership from WVU.
“Dr. Dooley’s energy and vision for student success make her an outstanding addition to our Knights family,” said A. Dale Whittaker, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at UCF.
Manoj Chopra, who has served as interim vice provost and dean during the past year while a national search was conducted and the division created, will return to teaching and his research at the College of Engineering & Computer Science.
“Dr. Chopra has demonstrated incredible leadership,” Whittaker said. “We are grateful for the advancements he has made in Undergraduate Studies in such a short time.”