Associate Vice President, Beth Harper Retires

Dr. Elizabeth Harper will retire from her role as Associate Vice President for Student Services. She has been with NOVA for 14 years and currently has responsibility for Disability Support Services and NOVACares. In addition, she serves as the interim Title IX Coordinator.  As the former Associate Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management (2006-2018), Dr. Harper’s responsibilities included overseeing the College Records Office, Financial Aid, Military and Veteran Services, and Virtual Advising.

Before becoming the Associate Vice President, Dr. Harper worked at the Woodbridge Campus as a program developer in what evolved into the Workforce program (1988 – 1990) and as an adjunct faculty member at the Alexandria Campus teaching in the noncredit ESL program (1990-1995).

In addition to her work at NOVA, Dr. Harper serves as a member of the Advisory Board of ATIXA (Association of Title IX Administers) and the Advisory Board of Parchment. Dr. Harper teaches graduate courses in educational leadership, foundations, and policy at the University of Virginia.

“Beth was instrumental in ensuring that student mental health needs were at the forefront of support services.  She dedicated her career to giving voice to those unheard. As a fellow military spouse, I wish only, “Fair winds and following seas” shared Dr. Frances Villagran-Glover.

“When Beth interviewed for the AVP position at NOVA, her answers were so good that one committee member said they were “too good!”  Once hired, she made it her mission to work with me to show that Student Services and Academic Services could work well together and have fun doing it.  I’m really going to miss her” said Dr. Sheri Robertson.

Dr. Harper has worked for more than 45+ years opening doors for students who otherwise might not have had a chance to reach their educational goals, in a variety of civilian and military education settings in the United States and abroad as an administrator, counselor and teacher. Her research interests include broadening access and equity for underserved populations, issues in immigrant education and the evolution of higher education opportunities for women. She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Virginia, an M.S. in Adult and Occupational Education from Kansas State University, an M.A. in School Psychology from the University of North Carolina, and a B.A. in Psychology from Hollins College.

Thank you Beth for your many years of service to our students and to the larger higher ed. community. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.