University Appoints Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs

ASHLAND, Ohio –Ashland University has appointed Dr. Vickie Van Dresar as assistant provost for undergraduate academic affairs.

“This is a newly configured administrative position created from several assignments previously present in the University’s organization. This position brings together the responsibilities of the core curriculum director, Introduction to University Life (IUL) coordinator and oversight of the international perspectives component,” said Provost Dr. Robert Suggs, who announced the appointment at Ashland University’s all-institutional meeting. “Vickie has served as an IUL co- coordinator for the past two years so she already has insight into some of the responsibilities of this position.”

Van Dresar, an associate professor of mathematics who has served as a faculty member at Ashland University since 1996, said she is looking forward to the new opportunity.

“This position will be taking all the institutional degree requirements and putting them under one house,” she said. “The administration sees this as a positive and I see the three pieces fitting together very well.

“In IUL, we teach students to be active participants in their own education. The core requirements help students become well-rounded individuals and be exposed to ideas outside their majors. International perspectives courses help our students to become more aware of their place in the world. Most of our students come from very similar backgrounds and these courses help them to be more aware of different cultures.”

A past recipient of Ashland University’s Taylor Excellence in Teaching Award, Van Dresar admitted she may miss being in a classroom.
 
“I will teach one course per year and this year it will be a math course. In the future, it will be an IUL course,” she said. “It concerns me that I will give up daily contact with students, but I am excited about the ability to effect change to make the institution better for them.”

Van Dresar said she would not have applied for the new position had she not served as IUL co-coordinator along with Michelle Henson for the past two years.

“I found I enjoyed the interaction with other departments on campus and professors I met through my IUL responsibilities,” she said. “I will find out whether I enjoy being in a classroom because of the teaching because I enjoy interacting with people.

“The University is taking a positive step forward in creating this position. It is showing that academics – and academics done right – matter. This is an important position and I’m excited not only for me but also that the University is truly this aware of the importance of academics.”

A past recipient of Ashland University’s Academic Mentor Award, Van Dresar said she will continue to serve as adviser to the Math Club as another way to stay in contact with students.

Van Dresar holds a Ph.D. in educational mathematics from the University of Northern Colorado, a master of science degree in mathematics from the University of Akron and a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from Shenandoah (Va.) University. Prior to coming to Ashland University, she served as graduate assistant and research assistant at the University of Northern Colorado.

She and her husband, Neil, reside in Litchfield.

Ashland University is a private, comprehensive institution located in north central Ohio between Cleveland and Columbus. On-campus enrollment is nearly 2,150 undergraduate students while total enrollment, including graduate and off-campus centers, is more than 6,500.