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Beverly R. Wendland, provost and executive vice chancellor overseeing academic affairs at Washington University in St. Louis, will conclude her tenure as provost after fulfilling a successful five-year term in the position. Her transition will take effect on July 31, as stated by Chancellor Andrew D. Martin.
Since her arrival at WashU in 2020, Wendland has furthered the institution’s academic mission, promoting interdisciplinary partnership and navigating the university through extraordinary difficulties, including the COVID-19 crisis. During her leadership, WashU has achieved notable advancements in academic excellence, research innovation, and community involvement. Her duration as provost has been characterized by a persistent dedication to improving student education, fostering an inclusive environment, and positioning the university as a frontrunner in higher learning. Through her academic stewardship, she has applied strategic insights to enhance higher education, encompassing digital evolution, global competitiveness, and civic involvement.
“From the initial moment Beverly joined WashU, she infused her role as provost with vision, warmth, and a reliable presence,” Martin remarked. “She came aboard at one of the most unpredictable and tough periods in the university’s timeline, and was pivotal in steering us during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, she has consistently demonstrated remarkable commitment, steadfastness, and intellect. Her profound kindness, cooperative spirit, and unwavering dedication to the WashU community have tremendously enriched our institution. I am immensely appreciative of her leadership and the enduring influence she has had on our academic objectives and campus culture. I anticipate collaborating with Beverly in her role as senior advisor to the chancellor in the upcoming academic year.”
A fundamental aspect of Wendland’s provostship was the creation and execution of “Here and Next,” WashU’s decade-long strategic initiative. Launched in 2022, the vision of this plan resulted from an 18-month collaborative effort that integrated over 2,000 individuals from the university community. The plan emphasizes three primary pillars: enhancing research quality, investing in the development of every member on campus, and encouraging community involvement for the benefit of all neighbors. Under Wendland’s direction, the university instituted 17 implementation committees to convert this vision into actionable initiatives, reflecting a commitment to academic excellence, community influence, global perspective, equity, and stewardship.
Wendland played an essential role in founding WashU’s School of Public Health, the first new school to be established in over a century. As a key initiative within “Here and Next,” this new school embodies her dedication to applying academic excellence for public benefit. Wendland assisted in shaping the vision, guided planning efforts, and ensured wide-ranging collaboration among disciplines to situate the school to tackle urgent global health challenges of both today and the future. Her leadership was crucial in establishing a foundation for a school that will promote research, education, and community impact in public health for generations to come.
Before her role at WashU, Wendland served as the James B. Knapp Dean of the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, a position she occupied from 2015 to 2020, having been part of the Johns Hopkins faculty since 1998, including serving as chair of the Department of Biology from 2009 to 2014. During her tenure as dean, she steered the Krieger School through a successful capital campaign that raised $747 million and played a crucial role in establishing the SNF Agora Institute, a center for research, education, and practice aimed at strengthening global democracy, one of the most influential institutes developed in recent years to facilitate informed discourse on campuses and in communities.
A nationally acknowledged cell biologist, Wendland’s research is centered on the molecular processes of endocytosis utilizing yeast as a model system, with consequences for understanding human ailments such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. She has been honored as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for her pioneering work in cell biology. As a first-generation college alumnus, Wendland obtained her bachelor’s degree in bioengineering from the University of California, San Diego, and her PhD in neurosciences from Stanford University.
“Serving as WashU’s provost has been one of the greatest privileges of my career,” Wendland expressed. “I’m exceptionally proud of our collective achievements — from launching the ‘Here and Next’ strategic initiative and founding the School of Public Health, to promoting academic excellence within our schools and recruiting a truly outstanding group of deans and faculty. I’m also profoundly thankful for how our community united to face the challenges posed by the pandemic with resilience, empathy, and steadfast dedication to our mission.
“This has been an especially demanding time to lead in higher education, characterized by swift changes, uncertainty, and increasing expectations on both institutions and individuals. I have been constantly inspired by the creativity, commitment, and strength displayed by the WashU community. As advancements occur rapidly in my own fields of cell biology, genetics, and neuroscience, I will dedicate the upcoming months to investigating how universities need to reassess our core mission to maximize existing knowledge and newly acquired discoveries, ensuring the highest quality of education and research for the forthcoming generation of students and scholars. I remain deeply devoted to the prosperity of WashU and will facilitate a smooth and considerate transition in every possible respect. The future of our university is promising, and I leave my position with confidence in Chancellor Martin and the exceptional talent, leadership, and vision that will propel this institution forward.”
Information regarding the university’s next provost will be disseminated to the WashU community shortly.
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