June 19, 2023 – Last Friday, Santa Fe College President Paul Broadie II updated the college community about the Provost search process. Details of his message are below.
Santa Fe Family,
I am pleased to provide you with an update regarding our continuing search for a Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. First and foremost, I want to thank the members of our Provost Search Committee for the incredible amount of high-quality work they performed throughout the search process as well as their candid feedback, which has been critical in informing our next steps.
The robust search process helped to reveal an opportunity to build capacity at the leadership level that will allow continual growth and positive change for SF in support of our students and the community we serve. As Santa Fe College continues to expand our academic programs and offer new certificate and degree options, it is imperative that we have the leadership capacity to maintain our high standards of academic excellence and support to students for years to come, while capitalizing on innovation and advancement. As higher education experiences a fast-paced evolution throughout the nation, the increased responsibility and demands placed on Academic Affairs call for a modified structure that will fully support our academic enterprise and the academic rigor, excellence and student success that sits at our core.
Accordingly, I am excited to announce that Dr. Jodi Long has been promoted to a new role as our Vice Provost for Academic Innovation and Strategy. Her areas of leadership for Academic Affairs will include oversight of online education (quality and academic rigor), academic planning and strategy, Academic Affairs strategic budget administration Academic Affairs legislative guidance and support, academic initiatives supporting student success and persistence, assistance with enhancement of existing educational and community partnerships, and major innovative initiatives, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology. Dr. Long has been a tremendous advocate for our students and a great asset to the Santa Fe community. The partnerships she has developed have helped grow our Health Science and Emerging Technologies programs and create new learning opportunities for students. She has been integral to advancing innovative teaching methods and adding cutting edge technology into the curriculum and will help create new opportunities to build on our success and the success of our students.
Dr. Mercedes Quiroga, retired provost and campus president at both Miami Dade College and Broward College, has graciously agreed to serve as our interim Provost during our continued search process. Dr. Quiroga has vast academic and executive leadership experience. In addition to having served as campus president and provost she has served as Dean of the New World School of the Arts, Department Chair for Arts and Philosophy, Director of Student Retention and has teaching experience. Dr. Quiroga has a long history of leadership within the Florida College System, understands and believes in our mission, and will help us bridge the gap until a permanent Provost is selected.
This fall, the College will continue the search for our new Provost who will serve as chief academic officer over the expanded Academic Affairs leadership team. We will utilize the services of a consulting firm who will build off of our existing search process. As before, the search consultant will be charged with identifying highly qualified candidates that align with our values, our mission, and qualifications we seek as an institution. We are committed to finding a well-qualified academic leader and visionary who will help chart the academic course of the college for years to come, while supporting and inspiring our faculty, engaging our students, and maintaining our status as an elite institution.
Last, but certainly not least, Dr. Lisa Armour, who I cannot thank enough for providing leadership over Academic Affairs for the last two years, will return her previous duties as Vice President in the newly renamed Office for Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning. Her professionalism, her dedication to our faculty, and her passion for teaching and learning outcomes is essential to our success as an institution. As we address future accreditation needs across the institution and develop our new Strategic Plan and implement our QEP, I can’t think of anyone more qualified than Dr. Armour to lead these efforts and maintain our status as an elite institution. I also thank her for helping Dr. Quiroga come up to speed as we prepare for the fall term.
All updates regarding the provost search can be found on the college’s webpage, sfcollege.edu/provost-search.