Associate Provost Richards announced

RosalieRichardsDr. Rosalie Richards, nationally recognized leader in undergraduate research, faculty development, inclusive excellence and cultural competence, STEM, and STEM education, will join Stetson University as associate provost for Faculty Development and professor of Chemistry and Education, effective July 21, 2014.

Richards joins Stetson from an appointment as Kaolin Endowed Chair in Science and Georgia Eminent Scholar and Professor of Chemistry at Georgia College and State University. She is founding director of the Science Education Center which she developed into a robust grant-funded initiative that strengthened undergraduate and graduate education, faculty, staff, and community science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and STEM education programs. Prior to her appointment at Georgia College and State University, Richards served as scholar-teacher at the Model Institutions for Excellence at Spelman College.

“It is an honor and pleasure to welcome Dr. Richards to the Stetson University community,” said Dr. Beth Paul, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “She is an exemplary teacher-scholar leader, regarded nationally for her expertise in faculty development, STEM education and inclusive excellence. A special focus for Dr. Richards will be the support of the many extraordinary new faculty we are welcoming. I am confident that with her expertise and passion, she will enhance the faculty experience at Stetson.”

In her position at Stetson, Richards will lead the development of the Brown Center for Faculty Innovation and Excellence, while supervising the expansion of the Brown Teacher-Scholar Fellows and visiting master teacher-scholar programs. She will play a key role in achieving strategic university goals as Stetson enlarges the ranks of full-time faculty necessitated by the rapid growth of undergraduate enrollment. Focus in recruitment will include: diversity, inclusiveness, academic rigor and excellence. A key priority will be the advancement of new faculty transition, development and support programming, as well as other initiatives that support Stetson teacher-scholars in achieving the university’s mission and vision.