Dear Colleagues,
I am delighted to announce that Dean of the College of Community Engagement & Professions and Professor of Criminal Justice & Criminology Tina L. Freiburger has agreed to serve as Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, effective May 1, 2026. Dr. Freiburger will lead 51ÁÔÆæ’s Division of Academic Affairs, following current Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Andrew Daire being named Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, starting next month.
The Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs reports directly to me, is a member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet and is an executive sponsor of the 2030 Action Plan. As chief academic officer, the Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs is charged with the administration of all academic units, including the schools and colleges, and provides leadership for all faculty and staff in ensuring excellence in the university’s mission to advance student success, research and community engagement. The Interim Provost leads the university in my absence and has a critical role among the institutional leadership team that promotes student-centeredness in our actions and decisions.
In addition, the Interim Provost manages the Division of Academic Affairs, which includes all schools and colleges, enrollment management and many other centers, institutes and units with a total budget of approximately $300 million. The Interim Provost also co-oversees the university’s annual budgeting process for all non-auxiliary divisions, including 51ÁÔÆæ’s central infrastructure and administration.
Dr. Freiburger brings significant academic administrative experience to this position, including six years as a dean at 51ÁÔÆæ in multiple roles: Dean of the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, Interim Dean of the School of Education and the School of Information Studies, and as of 2023, as the founding Dean of the College of Community Engagement & Professions, which brought together the three schools noted above. In her decanal roles, Dr. Freiburger has overseen the academic enterprise, launched new online degree programs, managed personnel and budgets, grown research expenditures and guided units through institutional changes. She achieved success in her accomplishments through approaches focused on annual goals aligned with the 2030 Action Plan, student-centeredness, faculty and staff engagement, and data-informed decision making. Also, she has experience in 51ÁÔÆæ’s shared governance structure, having served on the Faculty Senate, the University Committee and as co-chair of the Academic Planning & Budget Committee. Dr. Freiburger started as a 51ÁÔÆæ faculty member in 2007, obtained tenure in 2012, became professor in 2018 and served as department chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology from 2013-2020.
I extend my congratulations and gratitude to Dr. Freiburger for taking on this new role and encourage you to do the same. I look forward to all of us working together to successfully conclude this academic year and plan for a positive and thriving year to come.
Best regards,
Dr. Thomas Gibson
Chancellor