Lara Lomicka Anderson has been named vice provost for undergraduate studies and dean of undergraduate education in the Office of the Provost effective May 1.
Anderson is poised to continue the work she started 10 months ago when she was chosen as interim vice provost for undergraduate studies. Holding the Chapman Alcorn Memorial Professorship of Foreign Languages and Chevalier des palmes académiques, Anderson has served in several previous roles at the University of South Carolina, including her faculty position as professor of French and applied linguistics, her six years as faculty director of Preston Residential College and her work in creating interdisciplinary study abroad programs in France, Senegal and Morocco. A skilled researcher and scholar in the use of technology and computer-assisted language learning, Anderson is also deeply involved in university efforts to improve integrated learning.
“I am so pleased to be able to continue working alongside Lara to build on the strengths of our programs and address challenges so that we can provide an accessible, high-impact education to all of our undergraduate students.”
Anderson holds a Ph.D. in French from Pennsylvania State University, an M.A. in French literature from Bowling Green State University and a B.A. in French and international business from Grove City College. Her years of experience managing teams of faculty, staff and students in her residential living-learning community have been an especially valuable asset in preparing Anderson to be a key academic affairs leader for the undergraduate population.
“As a faculty member, I had the opportunity to teach students in the classroom, but as a faculty director I had the privilege of getting to know students outside of the classroom, learning more about their challenges and experiences,” Anderson says. “Being able to merge those two experiences provides a more holistic understanding of today’s students and how we can partner with them to advance the work we’re doing in undergraduate studies.”
As vice provost for undergraduate studies and dean of undergraduate education, Anderson oversees the University Advising Center, Graduation and Retention Network, the Center for Integrative and Experiential Learning and all the living-learning community faculty directors. In her role, she will continue to focus her efforts on initiatives to help the university become and remain a leader in advising, first-generation efforts, living-learning communities, experiential learning and other undergraduate issues with the goal of serving all undergraduate students.
“Having worked closely with Lara Lomicka Anderson for nearly a year now, I am confident in her ability to maximize the impact of the undergraduate experience through implementation of best practices that emphasize both academic excellence and holistic support for student well-being,” says Donna Arnett, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “I am so pleased to be able to continue working alongside Lara to build on the strengths of our programs and address challenges so that we can provide an accessible, high-impact education to all of our undergraduate students.”
Anderson is likewise eager to continue building on the successes of her tenure as interim vice provost for undergraduate studies.
“I really enjoy taking on projects and trying to come up with solutions. I’m a very collaborative team player, so I enjoy working with others to identify solutions and best paths forward,” Anderson says. “We have a lot of opportunity to keep growing and to become a leader across the US in undergraduate studies.”