KU names assistant vice provost for undergraduate studies

LAWRENCE – Lucy Sankey Russell has been appointed assistant vice provost for undergraduate studies at the University of Kansas. Russell comes to KU from the University of Virginia, where she has served as director of the Center for Undergraduate Excellence since 2007.

As assistant vice provost, Russell will oversee the integration of student services and retention services across KU’s academic affairs units and serve as an advocate for student needs across the university community. She will supervise the Academic Achievement and Access Center, KU Info and the Learning Center, the KU Writing Center, the Undergraduate Advising Center and the University Career Center.

Russell is excited to be in Lawrence and on campus. “I can’t wait to start visiting with students and faculty and helping put into place the initiatives in Bold Aspirations,” she said. “I look forward to working with the community to strengthen the pipeline of undergraduates through KU and into successful and productive lives. I am eager to contribute to the extraordinary work that is being done at KU.”

At the University of Virginia, Russell was involved in the creation of a Ten-Year Academic Plan. As director of the Center for Undergraduate Excellence, she recruited and advised students, managed the application for national scholarships and launched a number of undergraduate research initiatives.

“KU students are gaining a strong supporter in Lucy Russell,” said Sara Rosen, senior vice provost for academic affairs.  “As we build on our strong tradition of quality undergraduate education by implementing Bold Aspirations, Lucy’s experience and abilities will be a tremendous asset as she works to both implement and assess our efforts in persistence, retention and graduation across the university.”

Russell received her bachelor’s of arts in English from Stanford University and a law degree from the University of Michigan. She has also written nonfiction for Newsweek, the Christian Science Monitor and Brain, Child. She has been a fellow at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and earned the Commissioner’s Special Citation and the Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Public Service during her time at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Russell’s first day is Monday, Jan. 14. She will have an office in Room 133 in Strong Hall. Initially, she will report to the senior vice provost for academic affairs. The university will begin a search later in 2013 for an associate vice provost for undergraduate studies.

Russell’s husband, Edmund Russell, will join KU in January as the Joyce and Elizabeth Hall Distinguished Professor of United States History.