Executive Vice President and University Provost

Through June of 2020, Dr. Karen Pugliesi served for six years as Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. As dean, she provided leadership for 12 departments, schools, and programs offering degrees in social sciences, related professional, and interdisciplinary programs. The college was also home to three public service and research institutes focused on disabilities, family violence, and volunteerism.

Her leadership focused on increasing student success; growing enrollment; cultivation of diversity, inclusion, and equity; building support for faculty scholarship; development of new academic programs responsive to student interests and professional opportunities; forging partnerships to enhance college outreach and community impact; and participation of students in research, internship and community-focused service. Dr. Pugliesi spearheaded a partnership with community leaders focused on criminal justice and behavioral health issues, which yielded the college’s first endowed chair supported by a philanthropic gift.