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Dr. Nolan Atkins Named Provost of LSC and JSC

Dr. Nolan Atkins Named Provost of LSC and JSC

May 9, 2017

LYNDON CENTER, VERMONT – Lyndon State College interim President Dr. Nolan Atkins has been named provost of Lyndon and Johnson State Colleges and of their to-be-unified institution, Northern Vermont University (NVU).

Johnson State President Elaine Collins said Atkins was chosen from about 65 candidates to be the chief academic officer for Lyndon State and Johnson State effective July 1, 2017. He will become provost for NVU effective July 1, 2018, when the colleges become Northern Vermont University with campuses in Lyndonville and Johnson.

“Nolan has exhibited a strong commitment to students, faculty and staff in all his previous assignments and comes highly recommended for his integrity, forward-looking vision and data-driven decision making. Additionally, given his interest in advancing a quality academic mission, his curiosity and his collaborative leadership style, I have no doubt that he will thrive as provost,” says Collins, who will be NVU’s first president.

Atkins, former chair of Lyndon’s nationally recognized Atmospheric Sciences Department, was named interim president last July, when President Joe Bertolino left to become president of Southern State Connecticut University. Atkins began teaching at Lyndon in 1997 and was interim dean of academic affairs for 18 months until he became president. He has a doctorate in meteorology from the University of California-Los Angeles.

“I look forward to working with the students, faculty and staff on both campuses as we create NVU. The work will be challenging, but I am most excited about what we can create by tapping into the expertise that exists on both campuses,” Atkins says.

“My top three priorities will be becoming an engaged member on the JSC campus, developing a strategic plan for NVU, and working with faculty to identify areas of collaboration, innovation and efficiency within our existing LSC and JSC curriculum,” he says.

Atkins will be based at Lyndon State but will spend equal time on both campuses. As the second-ranking NVU administrator, he will be responsible for managing academic programs, administering the review process for faculty promotion and tenure, overseeing development of courses and degree programs, and acting as the chief administrator for NVU’s accreditation, among other duties.

Lyndon State College balances liberal arts and nationally recognized professional programs that integrate theory with hands-on experiences and career-ready skills to prepare individuals for personal and professional success. Nestled in the beautiful Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, the college of 1,200 students is known for preparing students for career success as well as its tradition of community. Learn more at http://www.lyndonstate.edu.

Located in the Green Mountains near Stowe, Johnson State College is Vermont’s premier public liberal arts college and the state’s sole member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. A leader in high-impact education, Johnson State takes students into the laboratory, the field and the community through internships, research, study away, civic engagement and other career-building opportunities with courses available on campus, online and in communities around Vermont. Learn more at http://www.jsc.edu.

NVU’s first class will enter in fall 2018. Last September, the Vermont State Colleges Board of Trustees approved a proposal to unify Johnson State and Lyndon State to provide new academic and extracurricular opportunities for students. Students will continue to benefit from the current strengths of the colleges while gaining expanded opportunities for involvement in shared classes and extracurricular activities, new academic programs and enhanced advising support; the campuses will retain their own athletic teams and mascots.

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