Northeastern University is set to welcome a new provost as President Joseph E. Aoun has announced the appointment of Beth Winkelstein to the position of provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, effective August 22.
Winkelstein’s appointment is notable as she will become the first woman to hold this role since the Office of the Provost was established in 1948.
David Madigan, who has served as provost for the past five years, announced his decision to step down in January and will remain at the university as a faculty member in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences and as a special adviser to the president.
In the interim period from July 1 until Winkelstein officially assumes her new role, Executive Vice Provost Tom Sheahan will step in as acting provost.
President Aoun expressed confidence in Winkelstein’s abilities, stating in a May 27 email to the university community that she emerged as the strongest candidate from a diverse pool of academic leaders.
He highlighted her leadership experience, extensive expertise in bioengineering, and a commitment to fostering positive student outcomes as key factors in her selection.
Currently, Winkelstein serves as the deputy provost and holds the title of Eduardo D. Glandt President’s Distinguished Professor of bioengineering and neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania, where she completed her undergraduate studies.
Winkelstein brings a wealth of leadership experience from her time at Penn, where she has held various significant roles, including vice provost for education and associate dean for undergraduate education in the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
She also chaired the Graduate Group in Bioengineering and has been instrumental in recruitment and faculty diversification initiatives at the university.
Throughout her career, Winkelstein has led impactful projects, including the implementation of research initiatives aimed at harnessing untapped strengths across different schools and centers within Penn.
She was also the architect behind the Penn First Plus program, which focuses on enhancing the academic experiences of first-generation college students.
Her commitment to diversity is evident in her leadership of various initiatives aimed at combating hate and creating an inclusive campus environment.
Winkelstein’s involvement has included serving as vice chair of Penn’s University Task Force on Antisemitism and as a member of the Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community, both established following the tragic events of October 7, 2023.
As a member of these groups, she has worked diligently to address issues of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination on campus.
In Aoun’s announcement, he emphasized the significance of the provost role, stating that it is central to Northeastern’s academic operations, managing its ten schools, colleges, research centers, and libraries.
The provost also collaborates with the senior vice president for finance in setting budgetary and financial priorities for the university.
John Jackson, the current provost at Penn, commented that Winkelstein’s departure is a ‘bittersweet’ moment for the university, recognizing her invaluable contributions and the deep impact she has had on the institution.
As Beth Winkelstein embarks on this new chapter at Northeastern University, the academic community looks forward to her leadership and vision in advancing the university’s mission.
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