Updates on Interim Annandale Provost, VP of Enrollment Mgt & Student Success

Today’s topic focuses on two updates related to NOVA administration.

Interim Annandale Provost
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Diane Mucci, Manassas dean for math, science, technology and business, will serve as the interim Provost for the Annandale Campus beginning January 3, 2022. Dr. Mucci will be working with Provost Hilbert to ensure a smooth transition, and I again thank Dr. Hilbert for her excellent leadership of the Annandale Campus and wish her the very best as she retires and joins family in her home state of North Carolina.

Many of you know Dr. Mucci, who has been the Manassas MSTB dean for over six years. After earning a doctorate in molecular genetics from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, she began her NOVA career as an adjunct faculty member in Biology, moving on to Frederick Community College (Md.) as an associate professor, then returning to our college more than 17 years ago as professor of Biology. Dr. Mucci is currently chair of the Academic Deans Council and is a graduate of both the Chancellor’s Faculty and Administrators Leadership Academy as well as Leadership Prince William.

I thank Dr. Mucci for taking on this important interim role and bringing her strong history of leadership at NOVA to the position. I also extend my gratitude to all who submitted letters of interest for this opportunity. As our calls for internal interim appointments demonstrate, our college benefits from dedicated leaders at every level.

As a reminder, NOVA has engaged Greenwood/Asher to assist in the search for the next Annandale Provost, and this search will begin after the holiday break in early 2022, with the expectation that the next Provost will be named before the end of spring semester.

VP Enrollment Management and Student Success interim plans
Last week, we welcomed the four candidates for the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success. I encourage all of you to share your feedback on these finalists by 5 p.m. today (Tuesday, Dec 7): your input is an important and valued part of the selection process. I anticipate announcing the new VP for Enrollment Management and Student Success before the end of this term and expect this individual to begin at NOVA in early spring semester.

As you know, interim Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success Syedur Rahman has announced his retirement at the year’s end. This will leave time between his departure and the onboarding of the new VP. During this short period, the deans and associate vice presidents will report directly (and temporarily) to me. I shared this information with the division last week and look forward to working with these outstanding professionals, all of whom are dedicated to serving our students.

In addition, Provosts Annette Haggray and Molly Lynch will be leading an enrollment management group that will also meet weekly until the new VP is in place. This group will ensure the continuity of the important and effective work of enrollment operations and planning.

I am grateful for the exceptional service and commitment of all in the Enrollment Management and Student Success division and for their steadfast dedication throughout the leadership transition.