St. Joseph’s College has appointed Robert Riley, Ph.D. — vice provost for academic affairs at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota — as St. Joseph’s next provost and vice president for academic affairs, SJC President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D., announced.
On July 1, Dr. Riley will assume the duties of the College’s chief academic officer. Responsible for strengthening an academic and value-oriented educational program, he will divide his time between SJC Long Island and SJC Brooklyn, and serve as a member of the president’s cabinet.
The College is thrilled to have someone with Dr. Riley’s experience and record of success come on board, Dr. Boomgaarden said.
“He brings a wonderful understanding of the mission of St. Joseph’s College, and of the larger goals we share as an institution dedicated to providing the best education possible to our students,” said the College’s president.
Dr. Riley replaces longtime St. Joseph’s administrator Tom Travis, Ph.D., who is stepping away from his duties as the interim provost. Dr. Travis accepted the position of interim provost in 2017 after Dr. Boomgaarden became president. The position was part of Dr. Travis’ transitional retirement from the College.
Dr. Travis has worn countless hats at St. Joseph’s during his 41-year tenure at the College and will continue working at the College in an advisory capacity to Dr. Riley.
New Provost Brings Wealth of Experience
Dr. Riley — who holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as a B.A. in Economics and Spanish from the University of St. Thomas — has extensive experience in higher education administration.
As vice provost for academic affairs at the University of St. Thomas, he has overseen the areas of faculty advancement, undergraduate education, library services, accreditation and assessment, sponsored research, sustainability, social innovation and service learning. He has served as St. Thomas’ chair for the Department of Economics, chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee, director of the Center for Faculty Development and director of the International Studies Program.
“I am genuinely honored to be joining the St. Joseph’s community and I look forward to working closely with President Boomgaarden, the leadership team, faculty and staff in advancing the college’s mission and the success of our students,” said Dr. Riley, whose research on economics has been widely published. “The dedication and commitment of everyone I met during my visit to the campuses was remarkable.”
