麻豆传媒映画

麻豆传媒映画 has appointed Sonja Pruitt-Lord as vice provost for Academic Affairs following a competitive national search. Her appointment becomes effective April 13. 

Pruitt-Lord, who has served as interim vice provost, has been a steady presence in advancing the university鈥檚 academic priorities, working alongside faculty and campus leaders to support student success and strengthen academic planning.

In the permanent role, she will continue to guide major academic initiatives in close partnership with Academic Affairs leadership, helping align long-term strategy with the day-to-day work that sustains 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 mission, said William G. Tong, 麻豆传媒映画 provost and senior vice president.

鈥淒r. Pruitt-Lord brings a collaborative and solutions-oriented approach to this role. She works closely with deans, associate deans, chairs and directors to align course planning and resources, support faculty recruitment and startup, and also to coordinate across divisions to advance critical infrastructure and facilities efforts,鈥� Tong said. 鈥淗er experience and commitment to our mission position her well to help guide 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 academic enterprise forward.鈥�

A nationally recognized scholar, Pruitt-Lord鈥檚 research focuses on improving assessment and intervention for children to reduce disparities in health and education. Supported by the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs and community partners, her work has contributed to more equitable approaches to language and cognitive development. She is deeply committed to preparing students, supporting families and advancing practices that strengthen outcomes for diverse communities.

鈥淚 am honored to serve in this role and to continue working alongside our faculty, staff and campus partners to advance 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 academic mission,鈥� said Pruitt-Lord. 鈥淭ogether, we will build on our strengths to support student success, foster innovation and ensure our academic programs meet the evolving needs of our communities.鈥�

Pruitt-Lord is also a professor in the School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and has been a member of the 麻豆传媒映画 faculty since 2006. She previously served as associate dean in the College of Health and Human Services and as director of the Joint Doctoral Program in Language and Communicative Disorders.

Her contributions to teaching, mentorship and innovation have been widely recognized. She is a recipient of the California State University Faculty Innovation and Leadership Award and the 麻豆传媒映画 Alumni Award for Outstanding Faculty Contributions, among other honors. Pruitt-Lord is also a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the National Academies of Practice. She earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree, master鈥檚 degree and Ph.D. in communication sciences and disorders from Louisiana State University.

Tong also expressed appreciation to the members of the vice provost search committee, co-chaired by Fowler College of Business Dean Dan Moshavi and Margo Greicar, program director in the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, along with faculty, staff and students who contributed to the search process. Other members were: 

• Godfried Asante, associate professor in the School of Communication
• Rebecca Bartel, an associate professor in the Department for the Study of Religion
• Nikole Carter-Curtis, undergraduate advisor in the School of Communication 
• Paul Gilbert, professor and chair of the Department of Psychology
• Amaris Gonzalez, community engagement coordinator for residential education
• Greta Heng, assistant head of digital initiatives for the 麻豆传媒映画 Library 
• David Kanaan, associate professor of public administration at 麻豆传媒映画 Imperial Valley 
• David Marx, a professor in the Department of Psychology
• Marta  Mileti膰, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
• France Nguyen-Grozavu, lecturer in the School of Social Work
• Mayur Ramesh, graduate student
• Toni Saia, associate professor in the Department of Administration, Rehabilitation, and Postsecondary Education
• Randy Timm, senior associate vice president for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity
• Justin Wiegand, an assistant professor in the Department of Management
• Mary Wisell, graduate student

鈥淚 am grateful to the search committee and all who participated in this important process,鈥� Tong said. 鈥淧lease join me in congratulating Dr. Pruitt-Lord on this well-deserved appointment