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Updated: November 7, 2022 @ 11:46 pm
The Bernhard Center on a sunny afternoon.
The Bernhard Center on a sunny afternoon.
The three finalists in Western Michigan University’s search for a new Provost visited the university Oct. 24 to share their values and credentials with the campus community.
Dr. Ani Yazedjian
Yazedjian received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Florida. She earned both her doctorate and master’s degree in human and community development from the University of Illinois. She is currently the associate provost and a university professor at Illinois State University.
Yazedjian began by sharing her background and why it is important to her philosophy of working on a college campus. Yazedjian is Armenian and was born in Egypt with dual citizenship in Egypt and the United States.
Growing up, she said she didn’t know how to define herself or where she belonged, and that guided her emphasis on studying ethnic identity development to help students figure out where they belong on their college campus. Yazedjian said one word that describes her values is purpose.
“I really think that guides everything I do. I’m always asking, why are we doing this?” she said.
She also described herself as a “systems thinker.” She considers how different parts of a system are related and how one action will impact all parts of that system. She wants to create a culture where everyone’s perspective and opinion are valued.
“Your perspective may not be ultimately what’s enacted, but everybody should have that opportunity to share their perspective,” she said. “We have to walk into spaces where it is okay to have differences in opinion.”
Coming from Illinois, she is unfamiliar with WMU’s culture, so Yazedjian will listen to staff and students in order to learn how she can support the WMU community.
Her knowledge of the university comes from WMU’s websites. She sees that WMU has a student-centered focus, values passion and purpose and takes a holistic approach to student success.
At ISU, Yazedjian worked with graduating seniors to figure out what students’ needs are and how they can continually improve the ISU community.
Yazedjian highlighted her involvement in developing a plan for COVID-19 on ISU’s campus. She views this experience as preparing her for leading a university through a crisis.
Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig
Dean Julian Vasquez Heilig has served as the dean of the University of Kentucky College of Education since 2019, with highlights of his university leadership being on the Council of Academic Deans, University Senate, University Strategic Plan DEI Workgroup as well as a member of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Advisory Board.
His research focus is on K-12 and higher education curriculum, policy and leadership that impacts equity and innovation. He has also authored 70 publications, having his work cited by publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press, USAToday, Education Week and Huffington Post.
Helig’s accomplishments as dean of the University of Kentucky College of Education include helping the school to receive its highest ever U.S. News national rankings and creating successful recruiting strategies that saw an approximately 46% overall application growth and a doubling of the freshman class over three years.
He’s also made a point to push diversity in his faculty and students, having increased racial and ethnic diversity in the 2022 freshman class by +150%, as well as approximately 20% percent among faculty.
His career started in Ann Arbor, where he received a bachelor’s degree in history and psychology at the University of Michigan, eventually continuing his education and earning a master’s in higher education from the same institution. He then went on to receive a master’s degree in sociology and then a Ph.D. in educational administration and policy analysis from Stanford University. His mother is a former Bronco, as she graduated with a master’s degree from Western Michigan University.
Dr. Royce W. Smith
Royce W. Smith currently serves as dean of the College of Arts & Architecture and Professor of Art History at Montana State University, Bozeman. Smith previously worked at Wichita State University and acted as a professor of contemporary art history and Director of the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries.
His education includes a bachelor’s degree in English, Spanish, humanities/fine arts from Wabash College, a master’s in English from Purdue, a master’s in contemporary art history and theory from the University of Queensland; Brisbane, Australia, where he also received his doctorate in art history.
He held his first professorship at the University of New South Wales College of Fine Arts in Sydney, as well as visiting professorships at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and the Instituto Superior de Artes in Havana, Cuba.
Smith was also selected as a Fulbright scholar to Paraguay in 2015 to help organize the inaugural Asunción Biennial of International Art. The event helped to display work from 128 in 19 countries around 54 venues in the city.
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They should hire a koala for provost. They have all the proper koalafications.
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