Judith Brown, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, announced at a faculty meeting Tuesday that she will step down from her position on June 30.
Brown, who was recruited to Wesleyan six years ago, will take a one-year sabbatical and then return to the life of scholarship and teaching as a faculty member for the University’s History Department.
“[A]fter 11 years in academic administration I am ready for a change and for a change of pace,” she said at the meeting. “ My last sabbatical was in 1992. I would like to take a break, to resume some intellectual projects I have neglected, to explore new intellectual horizons, and above all, to take more time to be with and travel with my family, especially with my husband, Shannon, while we are still able to enjoy a healthy, energetic, and active life.”
In her absence, President of the University Douglass Bennet will appoint a faculty member as interim vice president for academic affairs.
“It is of the greatest importance that we sustain the momentum and direction to which Judith has contributed so much, and meet the objectives in the strategic plan,” Bennet wrote in an email sent to the campus community Tuesday.
Brown told the Argus that she is proud of what she has achieved.
“I am pleased that we have made learning more accessible to students—by increasing the size of the faculty, by improving course access, encouraging better use of technology to support learning, and by emphasizing information literacy,” she said. “The vision of a Wesleyan education that we developed in the last six years will better prepare our students to be engaged with the world.”
Bennet had no shortage of praise for Brown’s work.
“She brought extraordinary intelligence and commitment to what is surely one of the most difficult jobs in university administration,” he wrote. “There will be other opportunities to celebrate her accomplishments, but today I know I speak for the trustees and all of us in thanking her for her leadership and celebrating her plan to return to scholarship here at Wesleyan.”
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