The University of Central Missouri is filling a vital position in the area of academic leadership with the appointment of Timothy R. Crowley, Hays, Kansas, as the Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.

Crowley begins his new duties April 1.

Crowley has served since June 2017 as Associate Provost for Academic Affairs at Fort Hays State University, where his duties have included curriculum management, serving as an accreditation liaison officer (ALO) for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), providing leadership for the Honors College, General Education Program, Center for Civic Leadership, and Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Program. He has also overseen department chair leadership development, program review, student success efforts, university strategic planning, and academic technology initiatives.

“We look forward to Tim joining us at UCM. He is deeply experienced in academic leadership and is committed to collegial shared governance. His success in growing and supporting graduate programs, leading accreditation efforts, and implementing strategic plans will allow him to immediately strengthen our ongoing efforts in these areas,” said Phil Bridgmon, UCM provost and vice president for academic affairs.

At UCM, Crowley will assume responsibilities that include providing leadership in working with faculty and staff in the areas of academic analytics, academic planning, assessment, graduate education and research, McNair Scholars, sponsored programs, student records/registrar, testing services, and undergraduate research.

Crowley also will play a significant role in collaboration with colleagues campus-wide who will help prepare the university for HLC reaffirmation of accreditation in 2023-2024. This accomplishment validates the university as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects the institution related to academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources.

“I am excited to join the excellent UCM faculty and staff and help the institution advance towards its strategic goals. The future is bright for UCM and I am thrilled to join the institution at this exciting time under the leadership of President Best and Provost Bridgmon,” Crowley said. “UCM is a forward-looking institution and is well positioned to provide its service area with the valuable learning opportunities and applied research that changes the lives of our students. Ann and I look forward to joining the UCM and Warrensburg communities and building new relationships in this next chapter of our lives.”

The longtime college educator began work in higher education in 1995 as a visiting Assistant Professor of Music at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. The following year he became an Assistant Professor of Music at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, where he went on to chair the department in 1998. Two years later, Crowley joined Fort Hays State as Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Music, and achieved the rank of professor in 2005. He was named Dean of the Graduate School/Assistant Provost for Internationalization in 2007; Assistant Provost for Academic Programs and Dean of the Graduate School in 2015; and Assistant Provost for Academic Programs and Student Success in 2016. He held this position until he assumed his current post as Associate Provost in 2017.

In preparation for his university career, Crowley earned his Bachelor of Music (Performance), graduating summa cum laude from Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, in 1990. He earned two degrees from the University of North Texas, Denton, a Master of Arts in Music (Composition) in 1993; and a Doctor of Musical Arts (Composition) in 1995.

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