New Appointments in the Office of the Provost

July 6, 2021

Dear Colleagues,

I am delighted to announce the appointments below, which are part of the ongoing work to align the functions of the Office of the Provost in support of NYUAD’s academic strategy initiative.

Kirsten Edepli has been named Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement and Engagement. In this new role, she will build on her ongoing work to ensure that our faculty have access to all available resources at NYUAD to advance their professional goals and achieve world-class excellence in their work. Kirsten’s office will support faculty through consultation, programs for faculty development, and building connections in collaboration with the Deans and Vice Provosts; provide resources for training, workshops, and structured programs to achieve excellence among faculty as envisioned by NYUAD’s academic strategy; and lead the development of special recognitions and awards that promote faculty research, teaching, and community engagement.

Kirsten’s office will expand faculty mentoring initiatives and provide resources for faculty as they prepare to advance through the process of tenure, promotion and contract renewal. Her work will elevate the capacity of NYUAD faculty as academic leaders. In collaboration with experts across NYU’s global network, her office will continue to identify and promote opportunities in career development for NYUAD faculty.

I want to thank Kirsten for her inspiring, innovative, and foundational work in the area of faculty diversity over the past three years. The coordination and implementation of NYUAD’s programs and practices that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging will continue to be led centrally by Fatiah Touray, Esq., Senior Director of Inclusion and Equity.

Eric Hamilton has been named Vice Provost for Research Policies and Governance. As Vice Provost, Eric will advance NYUAD’s academic excellence by supporting the Provost and Deans in overseeing faculty research policies and governance, related funding and spending guidelines and processes, as well as research assessment metrics and research space allocation in fulfillment of NYUAD’s academic strategy.

In this role, Eric will also oversee the Office of Research Ethics and Governance, thus leading NYUAD’s efforts in the areas of research integrity and compliance, human subjects protection, research-related conflicts of interest and commitment, and the Responsible Conduct of Research training programs. He will work closely with the Senior Vice Provost for Research, the Office of Academic Appointments, the Office of Academic Policies and Governance, the Office of Post-Awards, as well as the Director of Facilities Strategic Assessment and Planning.

I want to express deep gratitude to Eric for chairing the faculty-led Academic Strategy Task Force over the past academic year. The first results of this 48-member committee’s comprehensive deliberations in over 50 meetings and over 1,500 email exchanges will shortly be made available for further input and discussion in each academic division and program to advance the strategy into an actionable plan.

Martin Klimke has been named Vice Provost. As Vice Provost, Martin will advise the NYUAD Provost in key decision-making for all academic, faculty, and research affairs, and support the Provost in ensuring the highest caliber academic quality for all units by planning for and benchmarking success in meeting strategic goals over time. He will also oversee the implementation of the academic strategy in collaboration with all institutional stakeholders, as well as assessing and monitoring risk involving NYUAD’s academic operations.

In this role, Martin will continue to head the Office of Academic Policies and Governance, thus providing leadership for developing and implementing faculty policies and initiatives in accordance with the NYU Faculty Handbook and respective NYUAD guidelines. He will also serve as the Provost’s liaison to faculty governance bodies and committees and ensure that all stakeholders are consulted and the principles of shared governance are upheld.

Martin will also facilitate the development and implementation of initiatives supporting faculty opportunities and connectivity in NYU’s global network, in full consultation with the relevant Deans and program heads.

Susan Wei has been named Assistant Provost for Administration and Planning. In this capacity, Susan will support the academic strategy by providing administrative leadership in collaboration with respective stakeholders across the university, ensure alignment of the strategic priorities and goals with the NYUAD Provost Office’s administrative plans and operations, and facilitate the annual academic and administrative plan within the Office of the Provost in support of the academic strategy. Additionally, Susan will ensure the integration of the strategic priorities and
goals through a systematic, data-driven approach in the Provost Office’s administrative processes.

Susan will also oversee the Office of Academic Appointments in its mission to support the NYUAD Provost and Deans to attract and retain exceptional scholars from around the world.

Please join me in congratulating our colleagues on their appointment to these new roles, and extending best wishes for their continued work for the NYUAD community.

Arlie Petters
Provost