I am writing to share the news that Janet Woodruff-Borden, interim provost and executive vice president, will be leaving the University of Oregon to take the position of senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has been a terrific colleague, leading with wisdom and thoughtfulness through transition, while continuing to advance our academic enterprise. I am also grateful for her support and many kindnesses to me as I have taken on my new role. Her expertise will be missed.

Woodruff-Borden has served as interim provost since August of 2022. In this role, and in her previous role as executive vice provost for academic affairs, she led initiatives focused on student success to address equity gaps, interdisciplinary academic efforts, and supported inclusive excellence across the academic portfolio. She helped in the development and implementation of the UO’s Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health. She also promoted and advanced work in curricular development and approval, program review and accreditation, faculty professional development, inclusive teaching, and online and hybrid education.

Woodruff-Borden joined the UO in 2018 as dean of the Graduate School (now Division of Graduate Studies), where she focused on growing the graduate program and improving processes, policies, and graduate recruitment and admissions. Her final day in the office will be December 31.

I have appointed Karen Ford to serve as interim provost effective January 1. Ford currently serves as interim executive vice provost in the Office of the Provost and has served in numerous leadership roles in her 30 years at the university, including as dean for faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences, interim dean of the Clark Honors College, and senior divisional dean for humanities in CAS. I thank her for her leadership through this transition time.

As I announced in October , the search for a permanent provost and senior vice president is underway. Following input from the campus community and academic leadership, the search committee has finalized the position description, which is now available on the search webpage. 

Please join me in wishing Janet the best in her next chapter.

Sincerely,

Karl Scholz 
President