Thank you for everything that you do for our students, partners and the Drexel community. I hope that you have a chance to enjoy the season and some well-deserved time away. Wishing you a wonderful break and a happy, healthy New Year!

On Tuesday, November 8 — Election Day — the University will close at 2 p.m. to allow time for the Drexel community to vote. Although classes will not be cancelled, faculty are encouraged to be flexible when possible and supportive of students who may be working the polls.

Welcome to the fall quarter! This announcement contains key reminders to help faculty navigate the term.

After the sudden passing of Dean Penny Hammrich left the School of Education in need of an interim leader, Erin McNamara Horvat, PhD, senior vice provost for Faculty Advancement and Undergraduate Affairs, will serve as interim dean of the School, beginning August 22. A seasoned administrator, Dr. Horvat joined Drexel University in 2015 as professor and associate dean for Academic Affairs in the School of Education and in 2016 joined the Office of the Provost. She served as senior vice provost for Faculty Affairs from 2016-2019 overseeing policy and procedures and faculty development for all colleges and schools. 

Following a national search, David S. Brown, PhD, will become the next dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, beginning September 1. A scholar of political science with expertise in political institutions and their impact on economic development, Dr. Brown is currently the Divisional Dean for Social Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder, an Association of American Universities (AAU) and R1 research institution. 

Join us on September 21 to mark the start of the academic year with Drexel’s 2022 Convocation ceremony. Convocation marks the beginning of the academic year and offers us the opportunity to celebrate our mission of teaching, research and service to society. Our keynote speakers this year are driving change through their innovative work, collaborative approach and the entrepreneurial spirit that defines our community.

Today, we have the privilege of announcing a generous gift from Jeff Westphal in honor of his father, Ray Westphal ’59, HD ’02, which will help to advance critical areas of the Strategic Plan. His gift will help to establish the Innovation Engine, an initiative that will support the integration of experiential learning, curricular innovation, research and interdisciplinary solutions across Drexel. The Engine will be led by the Office of the Provost in collaboration with the Drexel Solutions Institute and will be co-designed with the Drexel community.

Welcome to the spring quarter! This announcement contains key reminders to help faculty navigate the quarter.

A joint initiative of the Provost’s Office and the Drexel Solutions Institute, the Provost Solutions Fellows comprise faculty experts from across the University who partner with external organizations to address organizational challenges, build research and scholarship, and create experiential learning opportunities for Drexel students. We are pleased to share that four faculty members have been appointed to two-year terms as Provost Solutions Fellows, joining the inaugural cohort.