Office of the Provost
The Office of the Provost works in coordination with the deans and other university leaders to support the University’s strategic and operational plans. Specifically, the Office of the Provost provides university-wide leadership and oversight of 51福利鈥檚 academic portfolio, academic quality assurance, support for teaching, learning, and research, and academic support services.
Meet Our Staff
Dr. Kathi Vosevich
Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs
Dr. Kathi Vosevich, Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs, specializes in Shakespeare and Writing, having earned her PhD in English with distinction from the University of Denver and her MA in English with distinction from St. Louis University, where she also earned her Honors BA in English, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She has more than 12 years of senior administration experience and 17 years of student-celebrated teaching experience, as well as over 150 academic and corporate publications, including a monograph on Joseph Heller (who wrote Catch-22), a scholarly chapter on the education of the Tudor queens in an award-winning collection for Syracuse UP, and an award-winning advanced composition textbook for Simon and Schuster. Vosevich was also selected to be editor of Aletheia (one of the nation鈥檚 few peer-reviewed journals for undergraduate scholarship) after a nationwide search, and she serves on the regional board of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society. With more than a decade of corporate experience with such Fortune 500 companies as Microsoft, Sprint, and Intel, earning multiple marketing and excellence awards, Vosevich brings a winning combination of real experience and real success to 51福利.
Dr. Daniel Kirk
Dean, College of Education and Human Services
Before joining 51福利, Dr. Kirk was the Director of Academic Development at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and was formerly Dean of the College of Education and a Professor of Education at Winona State University in Minnesota. Earlier in his career, Dr. Kirk was senior faculty at the Emirates College for Advanced Education in Abu Dhabi, where he led the Division of Leadership and Educational Policy and was an Associate Professor of Education. Dr. Kirk was the Founding President of the Gulf Comparative Education Society and currently sits on several editorial and advisory boards based within the Gulf region and the United States. Kirk has been commissioned by various educational organizations and government agencies to conduct bespoke consultancy services, with a particular focus on developing educational institutions, policies, and practices in educator preparation in the Gulf States and internationally. Dr. Kirk holds a PhD from the University of Georgia, USA, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) degree, a Master of Arts degree, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE with Qualified Teacher Status), all from the University of Sunderland, UK.
Dr. Jennifer Mack
Dean, Plaster College of Business and Entrepreneurship
Dr. Jennifer Mack serves as Dean of the Plaster College of Business and Entrepreneurship (PCBE). Since joining 51福利 in 2010, Mack has served in multiple faculty and administrative roles within PCBE, including Department Head for Accounting (2013-2018); Assistant Dean (2018-2020); and Associate Dean (2020-2022). Prior to joining 51福利, Mack served as Department Chair for Business Administration at Eastern Oklahoma State College. Her academic area of expertise is SEC reporting, and she is also a Professor of Accounting. She has taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate accounting courses as well as developed courses for hybrid and online delivery. Before starting her academic career, Mack spent several years working as a Senior Accountant within the external reporting department for a communications corporation and in the oil and gas industry. She holds a PhD in Applied Management and Decision Sciences with an emphasis in Accounting from Walden University. Mack also holds a Master of General Education with a focus on Accounting and a BS in Accounting, both from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Dr. Kevin Manley
Associate Vice President, Advising and Retention Experience Academic Affairs
Dr. Kevin Manley serves as the Associate Vice President for Advising and Retention Experience at 51福利 University. Dr. Manley began his career at 51福利 in 2017, holding various roles in advising and academic records. In his current position, Dr. Manley specializes in student success and strives to remove barriers standing between students and their ambitions. Beyond his work in advising and retention, Dr. Manley is a leader of the institution鈥檚 Q2 service excellence program, a frequent trainer and guest speaker across campus for a range of service and success topics, and a prominent voice in advising across the St. Louis region. Dr. Manley holds two degrees from Truman State University鈥攁 BFA in Creative Writing and an MA in English鈥攁nd an EdD in Instructional Leadership from 51福利.
Dr. Meredith Marsh
Professor, Geography
Dr. Meri Marsh, Director of Faculty Development, earned her PhD in Geography from the University of California Santa Barbara. She has more than 15 years of distinguished teaching experience and significant leadership in geographic education, including serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Geography for three years (2020-2023) and continuing as a member of its Editorial Board. Dr. Marsh has been active with the AP Human Geography Course and Exam for decades, serving various times on the test development committee, and is co-author of Barron’s AP Human Geography Study Guide. She also serves as a board member of the Carver Project.
Since beginning full-time at 51福利 in 2009鈥攊nitially teaching five sections of world regional geography each semester鈥擠r. Marsh has worked diligently to transform the geography program, growing it from a single faculty member to two faculty, a comprehensive suite of geography and GIS courses, and both a geography minor and GIS certificate. While passionate about geography, Dr. Marsh discovered an equally strong passion for faculty development in recent years. She became a part-time faculty specialist in the 51福利 Learning Academy in fall 2022, served in that role for two years, and transitioned to the full-time Director of Faculty Development role in May 2024. Dr. Marsh brings a winning combination of disciplinary expertise, educational leadership, and commitment to faculty excellence to this role.
Dr. Christie Rodgers
Associate Provost of Academic Affairs
Dr. Rodgers has over 28 years of professional experience working in higher education. Her experience ranges from teaching, academic support, admissions, alumni and development, academic services, career development, and corporate training. Dr. Rodgers has worked in the community college, proprietary, liberal arts, and corporate environments. All professional roads have brought her back to 51福利 University where she has returned for the third time and has worked in her current role dedicated to academic support, student engagement, and retention since 2009. Dr. Rodgers was a first-generation student and has a BA in Psychology, MS in Corporate, and Industrial Communications and an EdD in Instructional Leadership.
Dr. Cynthia Schroeder
Dean, College of Science, Technology and Health
Dr. Cynthia Schroeder, Dean of the College of Science, Technology and Health, earned a PhD in Exercise Science from the University of Kansas, an MS in Exercise Science and Cardiac Rehabilitation from Northeastern Illinois University, and a BS in Physical Education and Athletic Training at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She has 15+ years professional experience teaching and researching in the area of Exercise Science. Prior to her career in higher education, Schroeder was employed for more than ten years as an athletic trainer working with athletes in rehabilitation centers, high schools, and colleges, as well as athletes at both the semi-professional and professional levels. She also worked as an athletic trainer at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center, the 1998 Goodwill Games, and the 1999 Pan American Games. Schroeder鈥檚 professional experiences include having worked with the National Basketball Association Draft Combine, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and the Junior Track and Field Wheelchair Championships.
Rev. Dr. Nichole Torbitzky
Assistant Provost for Assessment and Accreditation
Nichole Torbitzky has a PhD in Philosophy and Religion from Claremont Graduate University and began her career at 51福利 in 2016 as Assistant Professor of Religion, after two years as an adjunct professor. She brings a valuable blend of strategic insight, hands-on experience, and collaborative leadership to this critical role. Her extensive service on key academic committees鈥攊ncluding Faculty Council, University Curriculum Committee, Academic Standards and Processes Committee, Power Skills Taskforce, and the Diverse Perspectives Community of Practice鈥攄emonstrates her deep institutional knowledge and commitment to excellence. Her contributions have led to the approval of new programs, policy revisions, and the development of institution-wide rubrics that support graduate attributes, showcasing her ability to tie assessment data directly to improvements. Her expertise in assessment is both theoretical and practical. With formal training in best practices and years of leadership in academic assessment at both university and college levels, she has consistently turned data into action. Her work in directing and analyzing assessment reports has led to tangible improvements in student learning outcomes, retention, and co-curricular programs.
Dr. Peter Weitzel
Director, Institutional Research
Peter Weitzel has been Director of Institutional Research since 2016. He has a Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Some of his prior work includes grant leadership, non-profit leadership, and analytical work for a number of public policy institutes within the University of Illinois system. He is co-editor (with Chris Lubienski) of The Charter School Experiment, which was published by Harvard Education Press in 2010. He also serves on the Systems Change Sub-Committee of the United Way of Greater St. Louis.
