Dr. Katherine Frank served as Provost and Vice President of Academic and Student Life at Central Washington University for the past three years. Under her leadership, we saw many major accomplishments that will have a positive impact on the university for years to come.

Dr. Frank has moved into the position of Vice President for Academic Innovation. In this role, she will help the university to prepare for the future and to remain competitive in the marketplace. The duties of this position will include conducting research regarding academic innovation relevant to CWU priorities, aligned with future institutional growth plans, and responsive to the rapid changes within higher education.

Academic innovation refers to the comprehensive learning experience that defines student success at CWU and encompasses learning both inside and outside of the classroom and across major institutional divisions. Dr. Frank is uniquely qualified for this role and passionate about how institutions like CWU continue to provide access for students, serve our regions, and influence the direction of public higher education.

Dr. Frank's accomplishments include:

• Working with the Faculty Senate to design and approve the first new General Education program at CWU in the last twenty years
• Co-leading with the CFO the university transition from incremental to incentive-based budgeting
• Creating a new division of Health and Wellness to support comprehensive student success and well-being
• Opening a new instructional site in Sammamish
• Overseeing the NWCCU reaffirmation of accreditation process and site visit in October 2018
• Leading a university steering committee and producing a comprehensive report examining the strategic process by which the university might pursue Hispanic-Serving Institution status
• Collaborating with University Advancement and the Foundation Board on the creation of new positions to support alumni affairs and external partnership-building and to identify and promote programming relevant to the region
• Recruiting and establishing an outstanding leadership team within Academic and Student Life

Katherine P. Frank, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Innovation
509-899-0650
kpfrank@cwu.edu