Janet McNew
Education
1973 University of North Carolina, B.A.
1975 University of Virginia, M.A.
1980 University of Virginia, Ph.D.Career Specialties
Dr. McNew's scholarly background is in British literature and poetry.
She has also written articles about literature, curricular
controversies and higher education that have appeared in publications
such as American Book Review, The Virginia Quarterly Review and
Contemporary Literature. Professional and Community Activities:
Dr. McNew joined the University in July 2006 as the provost and vice
president for academic affairs and professor of English. Since
arriving, she has led the academic reorganization of the University,
which has resulted in a four-college model, which went into effect in
fall 2007.
Dr. McNew has continued the largest expansion of UT faculty in the
history of the University, as well as the growth of enrollment to 5,300
students. In her first year, she facilitated the hiring of a dean of
academic services, as well as interim deans for the three new colleges.
She previously served as provost and dean of the faculty and an English
professor at Illinois Wesleyan University from 1993 to 2006, where she
supervised the hiring of more than 80 continuing faculty members. She
also changed the academic calendar to include a new May term and
developed a new, goals-based General Education Program.
Dr. McNew was acting president of the university from 2003 to 2004,
leading the community in writing a new university mission statement,
raising more than $10 million in gifts and pledges and instituting a
strategic goal of enhancing diversity.
Dr. McNew began her academic career at the University of Virginia, when
during her graduate years she headed the interlibrary loan department,
and then became an instructor of English and assistant director of the
writing programs. After receiving her doctorate from the University of
Virginia, Dr. McNew joined the English Department at St. John's as an
assistant professor and rose through the ranks to become full professor
and chair of the English Department.Honors and Awards
Dr. McNew has received a number of awards, including the Bush
Leadership Fellowship and was on the honor roll for the American
Association for Higher Education. She was also awarded the Faculty
Advising/Teaching Excellence Award at St. John’s University and was a
National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Fellow.
Dr. McNew was Phi Beta Kappa at the University of North Carolina and in the Raven Honor Society at the University of Virginia.