Graduate School appointments will advance distributive learning, scholarship

Provost Jennifer Drake announced new leadership changes and responsibilities for the Graduate School.

Erica Hamilton was appointed to a newly combined role of vice provost for Distributed Learning and dean of the Graduate School. Hamilton had served as interim vice provost of the Graduate School since last August. Jennifer Moore was named associate dean of the Graduate School, after serving as interim assistant vice provost in a part-time role.

Drake said this decision received strong support from graduate program directors, Graduate Council members and the Provost’s Cabinet, following an assessment.

By providing leadership for distributed learning, Hamilton will advance GVSU’s portfolio of credit-bearing online, low-residency and hybrid programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She will work closely with colleges, academic units, the Omni division and partners to ensure programs align with GVSU’s mission and strategic enrollment goals.

"Over the past year, Dr. Hamilton has earned the trust of faculty and colleagues across the university for her collaborative leadership, student-centered approach and thoughtful stewardship of graduate education," Drake said. "The feedback we received highlighted her strengths in navigating complexity, fostering inclusive dialogue and supporting program quality and student success."

Hamilton said expanding Grand Valley's educational reach through more distributed learning meets community and workforce needs and also mirrors the collaborative efforts that stem from leading graduate education.

"Serving in the Graduate School has reminded me that at the heart of our work are people, and that relationships and collaboration are two of my deepest values," Hamilton said. "We can accomplish so much more together than alone, and leaning on the expertise of others makes our work richer and stronger and enables us to extend GVSU’s impact."

Moore, professor of biology, will move away from the classroom as associate dean, but said this new role allows her to support graduate education on a broader scale.

"I’ll work alongside our exceptional Graduate School team to enrich the graduate student experience, champion graduate faculty and further develop our graduate programs," Moore said. "I’ll also focus on strengthening GVSU’s scholarly community by leading professional development and recognition initiatives focused on student and faculty scholarship, while ensuring our graduate programs align with the university’s broader mission around research and scholarship."