JUNE 27, 2023 — UTSA Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Kimberly Andrews Espy today announced the appointment of Kelly Nash as associate vice provost for faculty success. She will begin her duties in fall 2023.
As associate vice provost, Nash will be responsible for implementing national best practices at UTSA in standards, approaches, practices and processes related to the recruitment, appointment, development and recognition of faculty.
Nash is a professor of physics in the UTSA Department of Physics and Astronomy and associate dean for faculty success in the College of Sciences.
She is the former director of the Kleberg Advanced Microscopy Center and the graduate advisor of record for the graduate program in physics at UTSA. She holds a B.S in physics from Dillard University, an M.S. in applied physics from University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in physics from UTSA. She joined the UTSA faculty in 2010.
“Faculty play a central role in the academic experience, progress and outcomes of our students in and out of the classroom – and serve a pivotal role as mentors and models of success. This new role underscores the strong connection between faculty success and student success,” Espy said. “I am delighted to welcome Dr. Nash to our Academic Affairs Leadership team. As a successful UTSA graduate and accomplished instructor, researcher and administrator, she is uniquely qualified to continue to advance our institutional goals related to enhanced faculty recruitment, retention, recognition and success.”
Nash will join the division of Faculty Success, led by Senior Vice Provost and Dean of University College Heather Shipley, and will serve an initial three-year appointment. The new position will continue to advance the many new programs, practices and processes for faculty through this division. In particular, Shipley noted, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion Norma Guerra, appointed in 2020, has contributed to many of these achievements.
“Though Dr. Guerra has elected to return to her faculty role 100%, her involvement has resulted in the number of Hispanic tenure-track and tenured faculty increasing by 20% in the last five years,” Shipley said. “In addition, the number of mentoring programs for faculty has expanded and there are now coordinated programs to support faculty retention. I truly appreciate her outstanding service and commitment to UTSA, and I am excited to welcome Dr. Nash to continue this important work of supporting the retention, advancement and career transitions of our university’s world-class faculty.”
Nash has received numerous awards for her contributions to science and leadership including the Air Force Office of Scientific Research’s Young Investigator Program Award, the San Antonio Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award, and the UTSA President’s Distinguished Diversity Award. She was an inaugural IAspire Leadership Academy Fellow and has served as past national chair of the American Physical Society’s Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics.
Since 2020, Nash has served as associate dean of faculty success in the College of Sciences, where she supported the recruitment and professional development of faculty across the college.
“Faculty mentors have greatly influenced me in my role as a teacher and researcher,” Nash said, “and I’m honored to have this opportunity to help support my faculty colleagues in the incredible work they’re doing in their fields and in the classroom.”
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