The new chief academic officer at Fresno Pacific University has the qualifications to advance the university.
Patricia Anderson has accepted the position of provost and vice president for academic affairs. She will begin August 1, 2002. "Dr. Anderson brings to FPU an outstanding record of accomplishment," says President-Designate D. Merrill Ewert. "She has a solid background of leadership in higher education, excellent experience in organizational development and a deep commitment to helping carry out our vision and mission. I am delighted that she will join us as chief academic officer."
Since 1996 Anderson has been provost of Azusa Pacific University, where she was also associate provost. Before coming to APU in 1993 she served as executive director of the Michigan Higher Education Institute at Michigan State University.
"Fresno Pacific University is poised to move in many exciting ways in the future. I am thrilled to join President Ewert and the great team at FPU," Anderson said.
At APU Anderson directed all academic programs in six schools on the main campus and six regional centers. She supervised seven deans, an associate provost (who oversees the registrar, academic advising, distance and community education and other areas), assistant provost and directors of assessment and institutional research. The university has 257 full-time academic faculty and 500 adjunct faculty. Enrollment is 6,835, with just over 3,000 traditional undergraduates and the rest in master's or doctoral programs.
Accomplishments at APU during her tenure include:
- development, approval and implementation of four doctoral degrees
- accelerated degree programs in liberal studies, business, computer science, Christian leadership and nursing
- specialty accreditation in theology, nursing, social work and physical therapy
- expanded service-learning programs
- centers for writing, research and science and ethics in education
Anderson is a member of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Substantive Change Committee and the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) Chief Academic Officers' Commission. She has received fellowships from the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare (now Health and Human Services) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in addition to a United Way Award of Distinction. Her doctorate and master's are from Claremont Graduate School and her bachelor's degree is from the University of Minnesota.
Many of the traditional Provost's duties at FPU were filled during the 2001-2002 school year by John Yoder as interim associate vice president for academic affairs. Dean of the Fresno Pacific Graduate School since 1991, Yoder will become provost and associate vice president of academic affairs at Friends University, Wichita, Kansas.