David Stern Appointed Provost at UT

David Stern has been named by The University of Tampa as the provost and vice president for academic affairs. He will begin his duties at UT in April.

Stern will be UT’s chief academic officer and will provide leadership in developing high quality academic programs and educational experiences. Stern will supervise and oversee all curricular, instructional, and research affairs at the University, and will serve as a key advisor to the University president on all academic affairs and other institutional issues.

Stern most recently served, from 2006-2012, as vice president for academic and student affairs at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. There he helped develop 10 new academic programs, oversaw regional re-accreditation, created an office of diversity integration and a Center for Teaching and Learning, and increased external funding, including a $7 million consortial grant to transform teacher education.

Prior to that, Stern served as the University of Toledo’s Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 2000-2005.

Stern said he’s honored by the appointment to be UT’s next provost. “I look forward to joining President Vaughn and the faculty and staff of UT in building the academic programs to new heights marked by rigorous standards, a focus on student success, and a growing reputation for excellence.”

Stern received his doctorate and master’s degree from the University of California, San Diego. His specialization is 19th and 20th century European philosophy and political philosophy. He has an edited volume on Hegel forthcoming with SUNY Press, has published articles on Kant, Hegel, and Kierkegaard, and on such topics as self-consciousness, modernism and anti-modernism, identity politics and state sovereignty. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa.

Stern will report directly to UT President Ronald Vaughn. Vaughn said that Stern was impressive in his ability to be a collaborative leader who has worked closely with faculty, other academic leaders and administration to enhance the total educational experience, improve academic quality, enhance student success, and support development of the whole student through various co-curricular programs.

“UT is pleased to bring in someone with such skill and expertise at a time when the University is growing and transforming itself,” Vaughn said. “He will bring substantial leadership expertise to The University of Tampa in support of ongoing efforts to build a great university.”

Richard Mathews, Dana professor of English, and Cathy Kessenich, professor of nursing, co-chaired the search committee and oversaw the extensive national search. Mathews said Stern’s experience and high standards of scholarship will bring great strengths to the academic mission of the University.

“David is a very thoughtful and experienced administrator, and UT is lucky to have him as a member of the leadership team,” Kessenich said.

Stern received his bachelor’s degree at Louisiana State University. He has served on the City of Toledo Mayor’s Commission on the Arts, the Toledo Board of Jewish Education, the Toledo Jazz Society’s Board of Directors and Temple B’nai Israel’s Board of Directors.

Stern succeeds Janet McNew, who has served as provost at UT since 2006. McNew announced her retirement last year.