Susan C. Anderson has been selected as the new senior vice provost for Academic Affairs, according to an announcement from the Office of the Provost.

The senior vice provost is an important academic leadership position that is responsible for program review, curriculum development, matters related to non-tenure-track faculty, and is a member of the team responsible for implementing the collective bargaining agreement. The internal search was conducted to fill the role departed by Barbara Altmann.

Anderson will transition to Academic Affairs from her current position as interim department head of East Asian Languages and Literatures. She is also professor of German in the Department of German and Scandinavian and a participating/affiliated faculty member in Comparative Literature, Environmental Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies.

Her academic expertise focuses on German and Austrian literature and culture from the late 19th century to the present. Current research focuses on ideas of foreignness, identity, travel and translation in contemporary German and Austrian narratives and film.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to work on a broader scale to help faculty thrive at the university. Keeping lines of communication open between faculty and administrators is a strong priority,” Anderson said. “It is important for administrators to show that they value and support faculty work, and I would like to help build a more collegial atmosphere on campus.”

She has also been active in other contributions to campus. She has been co-chair of one of the taskforces (infrastructure) contributing to the UO Strategic Plan. She was a member of the United Academics bargaining team that negotiated the first collective bargaining agreement.  She has also participated in shared governance with the UO Senate as a member of the executive committee and faculty advisory council.

“Her experience as an accomplished humanities researcher, department head, engaged member of UO Senate committees and involvement with the first collective bargaining agreement with United Academics will be a wonderful addition to the team,” said Scott Coltrane, interim president.

-- By Julie Brown, Public Affairs Communications