Katherine Rohrer, a former Princeton faculty member who has served for the past eight years as associate dean of the faculty, has been appointed vice provost for academic programs. The appointment was made by Provost Amy Gutmann following the move of Georgia Nugent from her position as associate provost to become the first dean of the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning.
Gutmann also announced that Associate Provost Joann Mitchell has been promoted to the position of vice provost for administration and Associate Provost Allen Sinisgalli has been promoted to the position of vice provost for research and physical planning. In addition, Steven Gill, budget director in the treasurer's office, will assume the additional title of associate provost for finance.
All four actions are effective Oct. 1. Since Sinisgalli has announced his intention to retire next year, a search for his successor will begin shortly, as will a search in the dean of the faculty's office to identify a successor to Rohrer.
In announcing these changes, Gutmann said, "I could not hope for a more talented and collegial team than Joann, Kathy, Al and Steven. These appointments and promotions recognize their tireless efforts and enormous contributions on behalf of Princeton, and our confidence that they will continue to provide exceptional leadership in the years ahead. The University will benefit enormously from their expertise and their proven dedication to working collaboratively with faculty, staff and students."
As vice provost for administration, Mitchell will continue to manage the Priorities Committee process and aid the provost with other budgetary matters. She also will work with the provost on the design and coordination of a variety of administrative initiatives and will continue to oversee the University's policies on equal opportunity, affirmative action and diversity.
Mitchell came to Princeton in 1993 as associate provost and affirmative action officer. She has assumed increasing responsibility in the provost's office while also serving as a special assistant to President Harold T. Shapiro. Before coming to Princeton, Mitchell served as the director of affirmative action at the University of Pennsylvania and as the assistant director of the Opportunity Development Center at Vanderbilt University. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Davidson College and a law degree from Vanderbilt. She serves on the board of several non-profit organizations, including International Schools Services Inc., Association of Black Women in Higher Education, Women's Law Project, McCarter Theatre, Princeton Nursery School, New Jersey Supreme Court's Committee on Minority Concerns and the Board of Trustees of White Rock Baptist Church.
As vice provost for academic programs, Rohrer will assist the provost in academic matters such as planning for new academic initiatives and coordinating the implementation of the Wythes Committee plan for expanding the undergraduate student body. She will continue to serve as secretary of the Academic Planning Group.
Rohrer earned a Ph.D. in musicology from Princeton in 1980. She held faculty posts in the music departments at Princeton and at Columbia University before returning to Princeton as director of studies at Wilson College in 1988. After briefly serving as assistant dean of the college, she assumed her current post as associate dean of the faculty in 1993. Rohrer is a member of the board of the Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton and of the vestry of Trinity Church, Princeton. She is also a member of the Trinity Church choirs and was a founding member of the Princeton Singers.
As vice provost for research and physical planning, Sinisgalli will work with the provost on strategic space planning for both academic and administrative needs on campus. He will manage the Science Fund, which provides the research facilities needed by new faculty members, as well as provost's office funds dedicated to classroom renovation, lab renovation and capital equipment.
Sinisgalli joined the University in 1972 and became director of the Office of Research and Project Administration in 1975. He was appointed associate provost for research and project administration in 1989. A graduate of Clarkson University with an MBA from Monmouth University, Sinisgalli has served in leadership roles in many research-related organizations. He was president of the National Council of University Research Administrators and served for many years as a board member of the Council on Governmental Relations.
Gill's new title is budget director and associate provost for finance. The designation as associate provost for finance, formerly held by Treasurer Christopher McCrudden, formally recognizes the role played by the treasurer's office in supporting the Priorities Committee budget process and in providing general financial and budget analysis for the provost.
Gill earned his undergraduate degree in music as a member of the Princeton class of 1973. He has held various positions in the finance section of the treasurer's office since 1979. He has served on the University Concerts Committee and the board of the Princeton Campus Club and has been a University representative to the United Way of Greater Mercer County.
Contact: Marilyn Marks (609) 258-3601