Monday, May 10, 2010

Cathy L. Barlow has been named provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, effective immediately. Barlow, former dean of the Watson School of Education, has served as the university's interim provost since May 2009.

An experienced educator and administrator in both higher education and public schools, Barlow came to UNC Wilmington to lead the Watson School in July 2000.Under her leadership, the Watson School established its undergraduate and graduate teacher licensure programs as some of the best in the nation, received full reaccreditation from the National Council of Accreditation for Teacher Education (NCATE) with no areas for improvement, received multiple competitive grants to strengthen its teacher education, school partnership and regional outreach efforts, and established a doctoral program in educational leadership.

Outside of the university, Barlow has served on three national boards and as the president of two national organizations.

"Cathy has demonstrated that her vision as an academic and administrative leader expands beyond the campus to help identify, address and meet the needs of our community and our state," said UNCW Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo. "As education dean, she balanced her priorities to provide the highest quality preparation for UNCW teacher education students, helping to meet the state's critical need for teachers, while also providing support and counsel to current teachers and administrators in numerous regional school districts.

"I know she will bring that same approach to her role as provost, balancing the university's focus on excellence in undergraduate education, strong graduate programs focused on areas of high need and programmatic outreach to address the issues being faced in the areas we serve."

The provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs reports directly to the chancellor, oversees all academic units of the university and serves as chief operating officer. While in the interim provost role, Barlow noted that she met with administrators, faculty and staff from across the university, learning about the specific goals and challenges for each unit and developing a better understanding of how all parts of the campus work to strengthen the whole. In her permanent position, she will begin to work immediately on strategic planning for academic affairs and work closely with university vice chancellors and other administrators to address critical needs for the campus.

"As provost and vice chancellor, I want to listen and learn from all members of the university community as well as our external partners and constituents. Together, we can continue to build on those strengths and collaborate on initiatives for the next decade.

"Communication with faculty and staff will be my number one priority moving forward," she said. "We have so many strengths on this campus – highly qualified and dedicated faculty, top-notch academic programs, mutually beneficial community relationships at the local and state level, a culture that values diversity and international experiences, and high achieving students who are willing to work hard to learn and succeed."

Prior to coming to UNCW, Barlow served as interim dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Morehead State University in Kentucky from 1999-2000, as department chair at that same institution from 1994-1999, and as interim dean and dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences at the University of Evansville in Indiana from 1991-1994. Prior to 1991, she held several administrative positions in public schools and district offices, including associate superintendent, director and assistant principal. She earned her doctorate in leadership/administration statistics from the University of Tulsa, her master's degree in special education from Ball State University and her bachelor's degree in psychology and education from Milligan College.

Media Contact:
Joy Davis, Marketing and Communications, 910.632.3903 or davisjc@uncw.edu