Meet the Provost

As the Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Kristi Nelson, PhD, serves as the university’s chief academic officer, providing oversight and strategic direction for all academic colleges, the Graduate College, UC Online, and a collection of state-of-the-art university libraries. Nelson oversees the human and fiscal resources that fuel UC’s academic and research mission with assistance from the academic deans and provost senior staff while also supporting various aspects of faculty and student success.

Provost Nelson is deeply committed to student learning and engagement. In 2015, following a distinguished 36-year career as a faculty member, interim dean, associate dean and senior vice provost for academic affairs, Nelson was named professor emeritus, with one of the university’s highest honors, the President’s Award for Excellence. Nelson was called back in 2017 to serve as interim provost and several months later was appointed to the position permanently. Following a four-year term as provost, Nelson retired in 2021. She rejoined the university for a second time as interim provost on Nov. 1, 2024.