Dear Colleagues,
I am writing to share an important update from the Office of Faculty Affairs. Dr. Janet Dufek, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, has decided to return to her position as a full professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences, effective July 1, 2024.
Janet joined the Office of Faculty Affairs in January 2021 with the commitment to enhance resources and services for faculty success. During her tenure, she collaborated with the Office of Learning and Development in HR to deliver a series of seminars for the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Leadership Experience and President’s Fellows professional development programs. She led the critically important Chair Success Sessions, which support and inform academic department chairs across campus, and in 2023, introduced a new chair summer bootcamp as well as a mentoring series for tenure-track academic faculty. Additionally, she recently worked with Academic Impressions to deliver a survey on faculty professional development and engagement.
Among her other efforts, Janet oversaw the campus tenure and promotion process, provided extensive support on HR issues for all units falling under the provost’s office, and led the implementation of climate surveys within several campus units to identify and address areas for improvement. She served as a resource to deans, associate deans, and department chairs, making herself available for consultation. She also sought to enhance administrative processes, including the process for updating department and college bylaws.
As Janet transitions back to her faculty role, it’s important to recognize the support she has provided to our faculty community over the past three years. Her efforts to advance faculty processes and faculty development have laid the groundwork for continued progress in these areas.
On behalf of President Whitfield and the Academic Council, I would like to extend our appreciation to Janet for her service. We look forward to her continued contributions to the university as a faculty member and active researcher. The search for a new vice provost to lead the Office of Faculty Affairs will be launched in the near future.
Warm regards,
Chris L. Heavey, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost