Q&A Session: Elizabeth Davies, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Q&A Session: Elizabeth Davies, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

09/11/2024 3:44 pm

Q: What drew you to Rockford University?

A:The opportunity to work on a gorgeous campus at an esteemed educational institution that is so committed to its students and community was irresistible! Rockford University has a terrific reputation, and is leading the way in demonstrating a nimble response to the challenges facing higher education; altogether, these factors made me thrilled to join the RU team. In addition, the fact that both RU and my alma mater, Swarthmore College, have a connection to Jane Addams, makes it feel especially like it was meant to be!

Q: What drew you to this specific role?

A: The opportunity to serve as provost with such a dedicated faculty, president, deans, and colleagues, and to support an institution so committed to student success, particularly for first-generation college students, was deeply appealing.

Q: What makes Rockford University so special?

A: Rockford is a unique higher education institution in that it both embodies what is best about the liberal arts tradition- a strong arts and humanities focus, a vibrant intellectual life (as reflected in part by its Phi Beta Kappa chapter), and a wonderful tradition of theater, music, creative writing, and visual arts- coupled with an incredibly strong and successful career focus, as reflected by our education, nursing, business and science programs (among many others!). It really makes a powerful argument for the value of getting a bachelor's degree. And of course, there are the wild turkeys!

Q: What impact do you hope you make in this role?

A: If I can create more space for meaningful dialogue and communication between all the stakeholders of the university- faculty, students, staff, alumni, administrators, community members, and others- so that we can all collaborate for the betterment of each other and RU, I will feel like I have had a positive impact.

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This article is part of the 2023-2024 issue of Catalyst.