Carol Ann Gittens, PhD, Appointed Provost of Saint Mary’s College

I am pleased to share that after thoughtful reflection—and in recognition of both her outstanding leadership and the highly effective partnership we have established—Carol Ann Gittens, PhD, has been appointed Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost of Saint Mary’s College of California.

Earlier this year, Carol Ann stepped into the role of Acting Provost following broad support from across our academic community. Since that time, I have had the opportunity to work closely with her, and I have come to deeply value her steady, collaborative leadership and her unwavering commitment to Saint Mary’s mission and people. That spirit of shared purpose has greatly informed my decision to remove “Acting” from her title and appoint her to the role on a permanent basis.

Many of you already know Carol Ann through her impactful service as Dean of the Kalmanovitz School of Education (KSOE), where she distinguished herself as a teacher, scholar, and administrator. Her achievements there—and across her career in higher education—are extensive and include strategic planning aligned with our institutional goals, millions of dollars in successful grant funding, and a sustained focus on academic innovation, student access, and inclusive excellence.

I am excited to continue our work together as we support our faculty, deans, and academic programs—and as we help to move Saint Mary’s forward in bold and meaningful ways.

Please join me in congratulating Carol Ann Gittens on her appointment as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost of Saint Mary’s College!

Sincerely,

Roger J. Thompson, EdD
President