Two new associate vice provosts have been hired, Senior Vice Provost for University Interdisciplinary Programs Rob Dunn and Senior Vice Provost for Instructional Programs Helen Chen announced today.
Latasha Wade has been named associate vice provost for academic planning, effective November 30; and Levent Atici has been named associate vice provost for student-centered interdisciplinary initiatives, effective January 2, 2024.
As associate vice provost for academic planning, Wade will be part of the Office of Instructional Programs and lead degree and non-degree academic program planning for the university. She will facilitate the planning, development and implementation of both credit-bearing and non-credit-bearing new instructional program courses, curricula and programs, as well as provide guidance and support to faculty, academic departments and other stakeholders in best practices and strategies for developing new courses, curricula and programs.
Wade currently serves as associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and student success at Elizabeth City State University. In this position, she is responsible for providing leadership and support for student success efforts, including first-year experience, transfer student experience, student academic support services, the General Education Program, retention, persistence and graduation. Previously, Wade served as vice provost in the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. There, she was an advisor to the university’s president and provost on all matters related to institutional and specialized program accreditations, and served as the university’s accreditation liaison officer to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Wade is a peer evaluator and member of the Committee on Substantive Change for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education; a peer evaluator for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; and is Elizabeth City State University’s representative to the University of North Carolina System’s Student Success Group. She earned her Bachelor of Science in microbiology and Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Maryland, College Park, her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, and completed her American Society of Health-System Pharmacists/American Pharmacists Association accredited community pharmacy practice residency at Kerr Drug in Durham, N.C. and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
“Latasha’s experience will help us further foster a culture of innovation and strategic thinking to ensure our office’s academic policies, procedures and structures support program innovation that furthers NC State’s goals, values and strategic priorities,” said Chen. “Her deep understanding of academic program planning and development processes and accreditation standards and compliance requirements make her a welcome addition to our team.”
As associate vice provost for student-centered interdisciplinary initiatives, Levent Atici will be part of the Office of University Interdisciplinary Programs (OUIP) and work to expand project-based interdisciplinarity opportunities for undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. Additionally, Atici will work with Dunn and leaders of OUIP programs to identify synergies and opportunities across existing NC State initiatives as well as to develop new programs, with the goal of better-preparing undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars for careers where discipline-spanning, team-based work is essential.
“Levent will help to expand the impact of and synergy among existing programs and colleges, as well as launching new efforts. We want all of our students, staff and faculty to have the opportunity and skills necessary to rise to the discipline-defying challenges and opportunities of the next decade,” said Dunn. “Levent will help get us there.”
Atici currently serves as executive director of undergraduate research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In this position, he works to create diverse undergraduate research opportunities on campus with collaborating community partners. Previously, he served as undergraduate program coordinator and then graduate program coordinator in the university’s Department of Anthropology.
By training, Atici is an anthropologist who has worked to understand the past through the lens of ancient foods. In one recent study, Atici and collaborators used ancient DNA techniques to identify a new lineage of (now extinct) goat being consumed by humans at a paleolithic site in Turkey. In another, he provided evidence of the ancient trade in hazelnuts (now best known for their prominent role in Nutella). He is also co-author of the new book, “Food Provisioning in Complex Societies: Zooarchaeological Perspectives.” Atici earned a Bachelor of Arts in prehistory and history of art, and a Master of Arts in archaeology from the University of Ankara; as well as a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in anthropology from Harvard University.
“NC State is a national leader in education, research, and engagement in higher education, with OUIP setting the bar in interdisciplinary excellence and OIP in innovative degree and non-degree educational programs,” said Chen. “Levent’s and Latasha’s work will be instrumental in creating more opportunities for students to engage in high-impact experiences.”
Wade and Atici will also be working together to establish policies and procedures to support the operation of interdisciplinary courses, curricula and programs.
