Update: Vice Provost for Graduate Studies
Students, staff, and faculty:
I’m excited to share with you news about our new vice provost of Graduate Studies at the University of Kansas. Professor and Chair of the Department of Geology Jennifer Roberts has agreed to take on this important role.
Jennifer A. Roberts is professor and chair of the Department of Geology and a member of the 2012-2013 cohort of Senior Administrative Fellows. She joined the University of Kansas in 2001 after completing a post-doctoral position at the U.S. Geological Survey in Boulder, Colo. In 2013 she was recognized with the Kathleen McClusky-Fawcett Women Mentoring Women Award from the Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity. In 2019 she received the Professional Excellence Award from the Association for Women in Geoscience. Her research interests include microbial geochemistry, geomicrobiology and hydrochemistry; the role of microorganisms in mineral weathering reaction; carbon transformation and sequestration and more. Roberts earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from Trinity University and a doctorate in geological sciences from the University of Texas at Austin.
Incoming Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer and I are excited about the energy Prof. Roberts will bring to the Office of Graduate Studies as well as the ideas she has to advance Graduate Studies at KU and support our graduate students.
It is important that I use this moment to thank all who participated in this process and provided feedback. I also want to offer special thanks to search committee members led by co-chairs Simon Atkinson, vice chancellor for research, and Lisa Wolf-Wendel, associate dean for the School of Education. Finally, I am truly appreciative of the efforts of Interim Dean of Graduate Studies Audrey Lamb for her service over the past year.
Please join me in congratulating Prof. Roberts. She will begin her new role in the first week of February.
Carl
Carl Lejuez
Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor