Kathryn Sloan, Director of Humanities, Named Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

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Kathryn Sloan

Kathryn Sloan, director of humanities and professor of history at the University of Arkansas, will become the next vice provost for faculty affairs, effective Oct. 1.

The vice provost for faculty affairs is responsible for advancing the strategic recruitment, retention, evaluation and professional development of university faculty and works with faculty concerning grievances and complaints. Among other duties, the office oversees new administrator training, new faculty orientation, SEC Academic Leadership Development Program, Teaching and Faculty Support Center and Teaching Academy. 

"Kathryn Sloan is well-respected among faculty and is known as an excellent teacher and scholar," said Jim Coleman, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. "She brings an exciting and comprehensive vision to this role for how we can recruit, retain and develop top-notch faculty here at the U of A. We're very excited to have her join our team and look forward to seeing her work across campus this academic year." 

Sloan was selected for the role after an internal, campuswide search by the Provost's Office and an advisory committee.

Ro DiBrezzo, who has served as vice provost for faculty development since 2014, announced in May her intention to step down from the role this fall to return to faculty. DiBrezzo joined the U of A faculty in 1983 and is a professor of kinesiology and expert in biomechanics in the College of Education and Health Professions.

"I want to thank Ro for her service in this crucial position and the many initiatives she developed to help our faculty," Coleman said. "I also want to thank Deacue Fields, Kathleen Lehman, Terry Martin and Yvette Murphy-Erby for serving on the advisory committee that assisted me in this search. This was an extraordinarily difficult decision, as we had a great group of candidates."

Sloan holds more than 20 years of experience as a faculty member, with 15 years spent at the U of A. She has served as associate dean for the humanities in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, chair of the Department of History, and director of graduate studies and associate chair in the Department of History. She is the author of three books on Latin American history, most recently Suicide and the Social Imaginary in Modern Mexico published by the University of California Press in 2017. She also serves as a reviewer for the U.S. Department of Education's Fulbright and area studies fellowships.

Additionally, Sloan was instrumental in launching the IDEALS Institute on the U of A campus, helped develop the Arkansas Humanities Center, and assembled a cross-campus team to start Arkansas Stories of Place and Belonging, an innovative public scholarship and engagement series funded by a Chancellor's Innovation & Collaboration Grant that brings together scholar-experts, students and the general public to engage in informed conversations about the region's history of human interaction.

"I am delighted to join Provost Coleman's team and collaborate across the university to foster a campus climate that supports and rewards the achievements and creativity of a diverse faculty," Sloan said. "This position aligns seamlessly with my past administrative experience and my professional passion for faculty success. What excites me most about this role is that I can work to support faculty throughout the career lifespan from onboarding and orientation, to cycles of promotion, and finally, to engaged retiree."

Sloan holds her bachelor's degree in psychology from Kansas State University and master's degrees in business administration and Latin American studies and a doctorate in Latin American history from the University of Kansas.