Spring Break
Administrator takes on new title, responsibilities
Michael Hernandez
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: NEWS
If Celia Williamson were a disco anthem, she would be "I'm So Excited."
She is excited about students, work, life and NT.
"I'm really excited," she said. "NT is at a great place right now. Every institution goes through a process of development. It's a cool time to be here."
Williamson will aid in the development on campus as the deputy provost and dean of undergraduate studies starting Feb. 1, shedding her previous title of vice provost and associate vice president for academic affairs.
She will work to increase collaboration and communication specifically between the academic affairs and student development divisions and concentrate mostly on undergraduate education.
Williamson said she is looking for collaboration between the divisions and hopes to build lasting partnerships.
One issue Williamson is eager to take on is the first year students' experience.
She is sending a team of members from both the academic affairs and student development divisions to a conference about first year experiences, Feb. 15.
The team will report back and work to implement programs and activities designed for first year students at NT, she said.
"One of the hallmarks of UNT is its creativity," Williamson said. "Helping people find channels for that creativity is one of the things I'm most looking forward to as deputy provost."
Taking this new position means Williamson will not hold all of the same responsibilities she did as vice provost. She won't sit on many of the same committees, including graduation planning.
The decision to change Williamson's title and alter her responsibilities arose from suggestions made by the Peer Review process, she said.
External experts conducted the Peer Review in December 2006 and reviewed several areas including academic affairs and student development, according to the NT Web site.
Wendy Wilkins, the provost and vice president for academic affairs, said it's important to have a point person in academic affairs whose primary responsibility is academic studies.
The position parallels that of the dean of graduate studies, Wilkins said.
Wilkins said Williamson is just the right person for the job because she is creative in getting things done and is a good group work facilitator.
"She's also passionate about good undergraduate education," Wilkins said. "Passion goes a long way in finding ways to make things work."
Williamson is also passionate about sharing ideas.
"I'd love it if people contacted me with good ideas they have to make UNT the best undergraduate experience possible," she said.
She is excited about students, work, life and NT.
"I'm really excited," she said. "NT is at a great place right now. Every institution goes through a process of development. It's a cool time to be here."
Williamson will aid in the development on campus as the deputy provost and dean of undergraduate studies starting Feb. 1, shedding her previous title of vice provost and associate vice president for academic affairs.
She will work to increase collaboration and communication specifically between the academic affairs and student development divisions and concentrate mostly on undergraduate education.
Williamson said she is looking for collaboration between the divisions and hopes to build lasting partnerships.
One issue Williamson is eager to take on is the first year students' experience.
She is sending a team of members from both the academic affairs and student development divisions to a conference about first year experiences, Feb. 15.
The team will report back and work to implement programs and activities designed for first year students at NT, she said.
"One of the hallmarks of UNT is its creativity," Williamson said. "Helping people find channels for that creativity is one of the things I'm most looking forward to as deputy provost."
Taking this new position means Williamson will not hold all of the same responsibilities she did as vice provost. She won't sit on many of the same committees, including graduation planning.
The decision to change Williamson's title and alter her responsibilities arose from suggestions made by the Peer Review process, she said.
External experts conducted the Peer Review in December 2006 and reviewed several areas including academic affairs and student development, according to the NT Web site.
Wendy Wilkins, the provost and vice president for academic affairs, said it's important to have a point person in academic affairs whose primary responsibility is academic studies.
The position parallels that of the dean of graduate studies, Wilkins said.
Wilkins said Williamson is just the right person for the job because she is creative in getting things done and is a good group work facilitator.
"She's also passionate about good undergraduate education," Wilkins said. "Passion goes a long way in finding ways to make things work."
Williamson is also passionate about sharing ideas.
"I'd love it if people contacted me with good ideas they have to make UNT the best undergraduate experience possible," she said.
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