By Sophia Harris Editor-in-Chief Framingham State has named Keri Ann Sather-Wagstaff as the new associate provost effective March 3. Sather-Wagstaff taught at Clemson University, where she was a tenured professor of mathematical and statistical sciences and the associate director of undergraduate and graduate studies. Since 2022, she has been on leave from Clemson to serve as program director at the National Science Foundation's Directorate for STEM Education, Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM. In this role, she directs AGEP: Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate and co-directs ADVANCE: Organization Change for Gender Equity in STEM Academic Professions. Dean of the College of Education and Social & Behavioral Sciences Susan Dargan, who co-chaired the Associate Provost Search Committee, said the pool of over 80 applicants was very diverse. “One of the best compliments that we got from a lot of people was that they saw our website. They saw our commitment to DEI and that's why they applied,” Dargan said. She added she thinks one of the reasons the applicant pool was so diverse was “that there are lots of people who want to come to Massachusetts in higher education. People want to be in the places where there's a more progressive leadership at the state level because they feel like there will be at least some protections there.” Dargan said she could “not be happier” with the results of the search committee's hard work. Professor of Nutrition and Health Studies Susan Massad, who also served on the search committee, echoed Dargan’s sentiments about Sather-Wagstaff. “We are really pleased that she has chosen Framingham State and look forward to her joining our team,” she said. Massad highlighted Sather-Wagstaff's focus on DEI, particularly LGBTQ+ individuals, and her work to increase diversity in the science and engineering fields. She added that Sather-Wagstaff has a “friendly, professional demeanor and has done what she described as a deep dive into the current trends and challenges facing higher education.” Massad added, “This is crucial in these times when we are increasingly threatened with cuts in public higher education.” Ann Caso, director of institutional research, said given the broad scope of the associate provost role, she appreciated Sather-Wagstaff's dedication to the area of institutional effectiveness. She added Sather-Wagstaff's leadership and experience at the National Science Foundation “offers her a unique perspective and a comprehensive understanding of institutional effectiveness. Most notably, Dr. Sather-Wagstaff stands out as a genuinely authentic individual who will be committed to strengthening the values and mission of FSU.” Sather-Wagstaff said when she first saw the job opening, she thought, “They wrote this for me!” She said, “It's really exciting to come into a place that really values DEI up front, in the strategic plan, and in the job ad. When I interviewed, I was out loud about all of that, and people seemed to respond to it.” Sather-Wagstaff commended Framingham State’s commitment to student success. “Framingham State seems to really care about the students a lot more than other places where I've been at and not just, ‘Did you pass your exams?’ but really caring about the students’ well-being, their career preparedness, and engagement with the community.” She added, “This public good mission that is talked about a lot really resonates with me, so I'm really excited about that.” Sather-Wagstaff said she has spent the last 15 years working on recruiting and retaining faculty members from marginalized communities through her work at the National Science Foundation and is looking forward to bringing that knowledge to Framingham State. She added she wants to develop an understanding about what the needs are of marginalized groups on campus and “build support and equity initiatives around those needs. “I'm a big fan of not coming in as a savior and making assumptions about what other people need who have different experiences from mine, but really digging in and finding out what's going to actually have the impact that I want. So there's going to be a fact-gathering, lots of conversations,” she said. Sather-Wagstaff said, “If we want students to feel truly welcome and truly like they belong, then having a faculty that represents the student body is absolutely crucial for that. “It's not enough to just bring diverse faces onto campus but to make sure that we're not asking them to conform to a campus that's not built for them,” she said. “What does it mean for a campus to be truly welcoming for you as an individual?” Sather-Wagstaff said she is “profoundly excited about every aspect of this role” and about coming to Framingham State. She added she is really impressed with the commitment that Provost Kristen Porter-Utley and President Nancy Niemi have to the University's vision of this role. Porter-Utley said Sather-Wagstaff “is extremely skilled in all the areas that we needed for the position.” Niemi said, “I know she'll make a formidable part of the Academic Affairs team that a great institution needs to develop even further. That work is central to who we are. “I can't wait for her to start.”