Interim Provost and Other Leadership Announcements

This message was sent to the WPI Community April 14, 2022:

Dear WPI Community,

As the weeks count down until the Presidential transition, and with Wole stepping in to serve as Interim President on May 16, there are some additional changes in leadership that will be taking place in the coming weeks. After a consultative internal process, we are pleased to share that Art Heinricher, currently Dean of Undergraduate Studies, will serve as WPI’s Interim Senior Vice President and Provost for the coming year, beginning on May 16. Most everyone on campus knows Art as a leader who cares deeply about the success of our students and the excellence of our academic programs, and we are excited for what he will accomplish in this role.

We sincerely appreciate Art’s willingness to serve in this important interim capacity leading WPI’s academic enterprise, and with Art stepping in as Interim Provost, Arne Gericke, currently Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, will assume the role of Interim Dean of Undergraduate Studies. Arne, who served for a decade as Head of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is strongly committed to our undergraduate students and supporting their success in classes and in research.

In addition to these changes in Academic Affairs leadership, there are some changes in the Office of the President.  Amy Morton, Senior VP and Chief of Staff, will be leaving WPI in the early summer to return to passions working in the private sector, serving K-12 and higher ed institutions.  Amy has driven initiatives in the President’s Office for 5 years, including serving as co-chair of the current strategic plan. Prior to that she served for 6 years as head of Marketing Communications, helping to advance WPI’s reputation globally. Her leadership and drive to improve WPI leaves a lasting legacy of her time on the Hill. We wish her great success!

Amy’s current position will not be backfilled. Rather, Vice President of Marketing Communications Maureen Deiana and Vice President of Enrollment Management Andy Palumbo will report directly to the Interim President, and Rachel LeBlanc, Associate VP of Strategic Initiatives and University Analytics will report to Mike Horan, Executive VP/CFO. Finally, Kyle Siegel in the President’s Office will assume the role of Associate VP and Chief of Staff, reporting to the President and expanding her leadership in the operation of the President’s Office and the Board of Trustees.

Please join us in congratulating our colleagues on their new roles. With these changes set to take effect in mid-May, WPI is well positioned for an exciting year ahead.

Best regards,

Laurie Leshin, President                                            

Wole Soboyejo, SVP/Provost