Toby Jenkins, professor in the College of Education, will be joining the Office of the Provost as the new associate provost for faculty development. A nationally recognized leader in the field, Jenkins will begin on August 16.

Jenkins will be entering a newly formed position within the office, one intended to facilitate one of Provost Donna Arnett’s top priorities – supporting faculty success at each stage of their career. This position was born as a result of faculty feedback from across the university about the kind of programs they would find of value.

While several programs already exist to develop management and leadership skills in senior faculty members, Jenkins will help create new faculty development programs to assist faculty as they move from associate to full professor. She also will assist in the development of a program to introduce new faculty to the Columbia campus.

“The idea of being a faculty champion is extremely exciting to me,” Jenkins said. “I hope to help the university develop a better grasp of how our faculty are doing, what colleges are already doing to support their faculty, and what more faculty need to move forward within their careers.”

Jenkins has a deep understanding of the support needs across various types of faculty experiences. In addition to her research examining higher education investment in faculty and staff, she has worked with institutions across the country facilitating professional development experiences for faculty and administrative leaders. She has trained higher education faculty and administrators in more than 10 states and for over 50 organizations on issues of campus climate transformation, inclusion in teaching and learning, and effective and impactful leadership practices.

“I am excited to welcome Toby to the Office of the Provost. She brings a wealth of experience in faculty development and she is an energetic and thoughtful proponent of faculty welfare and success,” said Mary Anne Fitzpatrick, dean of the faculty and interim vice provost for faculty affairs.

As she begins her new role, Jenkins says the thing she is most excited about is being in service to her colleagues. Having held faculty appointments at major American universities within traditional PhD programs, fully online EdD programs, hybrid graduate programs and undergraduate programs, she is bringing a broad appreciation for all types of faculty into her new position.

“I’m excited about creating a robust faculty professional investment program, where all faculty can see their unique needs being addressed so that they can advance in their careers and achieve the goals that are most meaningful to them,” Jenkins said.