Academic Affairs

 From 1997-2017, Dr. Gittens served in a variety of senior leadership positions at Santa Clara University, including: Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences (2016-2017); Interim Chair, Sociology Department (2016-2017); Interim Dean, School of Education and Counseling Psychology (2015-2016); and Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences (2012-2015).

At Saint Mary's, Dr. Gittens served as the Dean of SMC’s Kalmanovitz School of Education (KSOE) since 2019. There, she distinguished herself as a teacher, scholar, and leader with an impressive record of accomplishment.

On December 4, 2024, SMC President Roger Thompson announced the appointment of Carol Ann Gittens, PhD, MBA as Acting Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. Dr. Gittens began her tenure on January 1, 2025. On July 16, 2025, she was permanently appointed to the role.

Dr. Gittens's scholarship includes the publication of dozens of journal articles, research papers, and presentations. Topics include Critical Thinking and Information Literacy; Assessment of Student Learning; Higher Education Administration; and Teacher Education / Educational Psychology.

Dr. Gittens actively serves in professional and community capacities as an Accreditation reviewer for the WASC Senior College and University Commission; member of the Board of Institutional Reviewers, California Commission on Teacher Credentialing; and as a former Trustee for the Morgan Hill Unified School Board of Education. She frequently serves as a manuscript reviewer and as both a strategic consultant and external program evaluator.

Her achievements in higher education and at Saint Mary’s are numerous and align well with the responsibilities required of our Provost. In her role as Dean of KSOE, she has capably overseen financial planning and budgeting, personnel management, and a broad suite of academic programs. In addition, she:

• Led the School’s strategic planning process and helped ensure its alignment with SMC’s Transformation 2028 strategic plan;
• Helped establish an Endowed Professorship in Early Literacy Intervention and Reading Recovery while conducting a variety of fundraising and public outreach activities;
• Generated private foundation grants, oversaw the School’s scholarship award process, and revitalized a Lasallian Educator Fellowship program;
• Championed, co-hosted, and funded several Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives;
• Provided organizational leadership for two academic centers.

Dr. Gittens's visionary leadership at KSOE solidified and advanced the School’s academic and institutional excellence through constructive and effective use of resources and a persistent pursuit of external funding opportunities. Her depth of experience will be key in supporting Saint Mary’s faculty, our schools, and our deans, while also helping to shape and drive our academic program offerings. 

More about Dr. Gittens's accomplishments as a higher education leader, including links to many of her scholarly papers and published articles, can be found on her academic website.

We celebrate diversity and welcome all members of our community.

We honor and respect the dignity of all individuals.

At the heart of our work is the mission of Saint Mary’s College: to provide a transformative education rooted in the Lasallian, Catholic, and liberal arts traditions. One of our guiding principles, Respect for All Persons, served as the College’s institutional theme this year—a call to action for how we teach, learn, lead, and live together.

Activities 

August

1. Announce theme by President email
2. Flier/Logo made
3. Faculty morning discussion on Respect
4. Mentioned at Welcome Liturgy

August (Fall Semester)

1. FYAC/TAC mission module emphasized the LCP and “respect.” Presented to 30 of 38 sections. 

September

1. Intercultural Center and Library: You, Me, and We: Leading with Respect for Ourselves and Others
2. Intercultural Center: Time to Strengthen Our Community. Collective Hour: Our Stories Told by Us  

October

1. October 1: ODEI and Library film, 12:30 - 2 “The Illusionist”
2. October 13: The upcoming book talk by Akhil Amar on 10/13. His new book Born Equal, explores how the idea that all Americans are created equal brought forth the Constitutional amendments that abolished slavery, secured Black and female citizenship, and extended suffrage regardless of race or gender. 

November

1. Office of Mission and Staff Council co-sponsoring a reading and discussion on some “respect” grounded in Lasallian readings.   Likely November 18, 2 - 3 p.m.
2. ODEI and Library, November 19, 12:30 - 2, film “You Throw Like A Girl”