Newest provosts appointed

By Vivian Yun, contributing writer
Posted on November 15, 2007

Jerry Benson,  John Noftsinger and Teresa Gonzalez were selected as vice provosts, a new position, by Provost Douglas Brown.

Benson and Noftsinger assumed the role of vice provost as of Nov. 1, in addition to the first Vice Provost, Gonzalez, selected in February.

Gonzalez was appointed by Brown as the first step in reorganization of the senior staff in the division of academic affairs.  She is responsible for the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the office of the registrar, academic policy & curriculum services, academic program review, academic student services, cross disciplinary studies/curriculum development and the university honor system.

“I am excited about being appointed as one of the three Vice Provosts and look forward to working with my colleagues Dr. Benson and Dr. Noftsinger,” Gonzalez said.  “We bring a great deal of experience and vision to the Provost’s team.”

Benson and Noftsinger are both ready to take on their new positions.

“It’s pretty exciting since we have never had a vice provost,” Benson said. “It’s an opportunity to have a broad range of programs working with colleagues in the National Center for Rural Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Outreach and HHS to look creatively, share ideas and look into the future to do together.”

Noftsinger will supervise research development, sponsored programs, economic development, technology transfer, congressional and federal relations and strategic alliances for academic affairs.

Benson, former dean of CISAT, will carry out the responsibilities of all the programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health professions.

“My role is to cut across alliances bringing people together to strategically plan across programs, and where we will go as a university in the future to leverage collaboration and research in these units,” Benson said.

Although their duties in these positions may not be apparent now, Benson and Noftsinger emphasized that students will see a long-term change to the university.

“On a day to day basis, I do not believe that the JMU students will see a tangible change, however, the effects of reorganizing should have a long term effect on future programs,” Noftsinger said.

Benson hopes students will take advantage of programs offered at JMU.

“It’s important to know that the quality education and support we are receiving now is going to continue and be enhanced,” he said. “I hope that students will engage in thinking what new connections and opportunities there are for them and to take advantage of them.”

Graduate student Ryan McKay worked with Noftsinger last August in the Institute for Infrastructure and Information Assurance, and said Noftsinger is as a respectable leader for this position.

“I have found him to be a very motivating leader who is extremely receptive to the needs of James Madison University,” McKay said. “Dr. Noftsinger has provided several opportunities for my professional and personal growth and he continues to be extremely supportive, thoughtful, and dedicated not only to my success, but also to the success of the other graduate fellows that work for IIIA.

Malcolm Lane, believes Benson is suited for the job.

 “Dr. Benson is the most qualified because of this experience as dean and he is an excellent administrator who really a vision for the university and I have enjoyed working with him,” he said.

Director of Research and Development Kenneth Newbold works with both Benson and Noftsinger.

“Their individual personalities and strengths impact the university, and they are mentors who impact my career and I enjoy having the opportunity to learn from these two great academic leaders,” he said.