Amy Burkert to Serve as Senior Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives

Dear Members of the Carnegie Mellon Community:

I am very pleased to announce that, effective July 1, 2024, Dr. Amy Burkert will assume the position of senior vice provost for academic initiatives. This new leadership role leverages Dr. Burkert’s deep expertise and broad-ranging experience to advance important academic initiatives, as well as to disseminate CMU’s educational innovation and impact. I am delighted that she is stepping into this new position as a strategic advisor for key institutional programs and educational partnerships.

A teaching professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, Dr. Burkert was appointed as CMU’s vice provost for education (VPE) in 2010. As VPE, she is a dedicated, collaborative and impactful leader who tirelessly advocates for student success, educational innovation, access to high impact learning experiences and enhancing the holistic CMU experience. Dr. Burkert and her colleagues in the VPE unit collaborate across all CMU schools, colleges, and administrative units to advance university-wide programs and initiatives. Dr. Burkert has been a vital partner in advancing mission-critical efforts, including the establishment of the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, the Student Academic Success Center and the Tartan Scholars Program. She was also deeply involved in the launch of the Simon Initiative, for which she is a co-lead, the Biological Sciences program at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) and new core education programs in several colleges. Dr. Burkert co-chaired CMU’s last Middle States Commission on Higher Education self-study and successful re-accreditation process. Prior to serving as VPE, she was the assistant dean for Educational Initiatives and the Health Professions Program and associate department head in Biological Sciences in the Mellon College of Science (MCS). 

Most recently, Dr. Burkert and her team partnered with academic leaders across CMU to establish and advance our institution-wide Core Competency Initiative and doctoral student holistic support efforts, re-envision the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, elevate the University Lecture Series, lead the New Academic Program Process, and develop models to broaden access to high-impact educational practices, educational outreach and scholar development.

In 2023, Dr. Burkert played an integral role in launching the CMU Rales Fellows Program, which broadens access to STEM graduate education through fully funded fellowships and generous stipends, wraparound support and professional development resources. As vice provost for academic initiatives, she will continue to lead this program to build partnerships and develop models for academic pathways that empower students from under-resourced and underrepresented populations to reach their fullest potential 

A recognized innovator and leader, Dr. Burkert has engaged in and led many national educational efforts, particularly those related to STEM education, general education globalization and academic advising. She served as a faculty member at the National Academic Advising Association Administrators’ Institute, president of the Northeast Association of Advisors for the Health Professions, president and chair of the board of the Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities and currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Association of American Universities Association of Graduate Schools. She also sits on the Joint Advisory Board for CMU-Q. Her achievements at CMU have been recognized through awards including the MCS Julius Ashkin Teaching Award, Undergraduate Academic Advising Award, Teaching Innovation Award, CMU Alumni Association Faculty & Staff Impact Award and the Doherty Award for Sustained Contributions to Excellence in Education.

A comprehensive national search for the next vice provost for education will be launched in the new year. Please join me in thanking Amy for all that she has done, and continues to do, for CMU, and in congratulating her on this new role that will enable her to continue to shape the future of education at CMU and beyond. 

Sincerely, 

James H. Garrett Jr.
Provost and Chief Academic Officer