The administration provides leadership and counsel on academic programs, policies, faculty recruitment and support, research, and support for academic affairs.
Office of Academic Affairs
Gretchen Ritter was appointed vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer in June 2021 and began her new role on Oct. 1, 2021. She previously served as the executive dean of the College and Arts and Sciences at the Ohio State University. As the chief academic officer for the largest college of arts and sciences in the United States, she was responsible for the academic success and research excellence of more than 17,000 undergraduate students, 2,300 graduate students and 1,300 faculty.
Read more about Gretchen Ritter
Academic Affairs
Lois Agnew was named associate provost for academic programs in April 2023. In this role, Agnew works with colleagues in Academic Affairs and across campus to support teaching, learning and student success.
Academic Operations
Steven Bennett serves as senior vice president for international programs and academic operations. He works closely with the provost and their leadership team on academic unit budgeting, personnel management, communications, advancement and strategic planning.
Read more about Steven Bennett
Enrollment Services
Ryan Williams is the University's vice president for Enrollment Services. In this role, he oversees the Office of Admissions, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs, the Enrollment Processing Center, the Office of Institutional Research and the Student Employment Office. Prior to being named vice president in 2018, Williams held several positions at the University, including senior associate vice president, interim senior associate vice president and associate vice president.
Faculty Affairs
Jamie Winders serves as associate provost for Faculty Affairs. In this capacity, Winders partners with Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter and other academic affairs leaders to support key faculty initiatives and advance the University’s vision and mission as outlined in the Academic Strategic Plan. A professor in the Department of Geography and the Environment, Winders was also the founding director of the Autonomous Systems Policy Institute.
Graduate School
Peter Vanable was appointed associate provost for Graduate Studies and dean of the Graduate School on January 6, 2017. He assumed the role of interim vice president of Research on January 1, 2016. Vanable is a professor of psychology and adjunct professor of medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He served as chair of psychology for six years, an appointment that began in August of 2009.
Research
Duncan Brown is the Vice President for Research and Charles Brightman Endowed Professor of Physics. He is an internationally recognized leader in gravitational-wave astronomy and astrophysics and was integral to the discovery of gravitational waves by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO).
Strategic Initiatives
Marcelle Haddix serves as associate provost for strategic initiatives. In this capacity, she partners with Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter and others to connect Academic Affairs with the campus and surrounding community. She is the primary liaison to the University Senate and oversees the First Year Seminar and University-wide arts and humanities affiliates and programs.
Read more about Marcelle Haddix.
Strategic Planning and Budget
Roberta “Bobbi” Jones is assistant provost for strategic planning and budget. Her primary responsibility is to serve as chief budget officer for Academic Affairs and to serve as advisor to the vice chancellor and provost on strategic planning and initiatives. She can be reached at 315.443.2055 or by mail at 323 Crouse-Hinds Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244.
Syracuse Abroad
Erika Wilkens brings deep international experience to her new role as assistant provost and executive director of the University’s Syracuse Abroad program. In 2010 she was appointed the founding director of the University’s new study abroad center in Istanbul. She led operations at that center until 2017, when the center closed its doors due to political unrest in that region.
University Libraries
David Seaman is dean of Libraries and university librarian at Syracuse University. He leads a talented library staff to deliver the services and collections necessary to drive 21st-century research, teaching, and learning, and to provide innovative spaces for study, collaboration, and innovation. He can be reached at 315.443.5533.