QUINCY UNIVERSITY WELCOMES NEW PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Quincy University welcomes Dr. Sarah Vordtriede-Patton as QU’s new Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. She assumed the role on July 1. Vordtriede-Patton will also serve as professor of biological sciences.

As provost, Vordtriede-Patton now serves as the chief academic officer of the university. In her first month at QU, Vordtriede-Patton, PhD, EdS, is one of 50 higher education leaders nationwide participating in a 6-week New Provosts Intensive program hosted by EAB, a consulting firm specializing in education institutions. She is taking an active role on campus, attending a Hawk Bound day with incoming students and their parents, working to finalize faculty appointments for the upcoming academic year, and meeting with President McGee, members of the President’s cabinet, school deans, and other campus leaders including Ralph Oakley, chair of the Quincy University Board of Trustees.

“I’ve found QU and the Quincy community to be extremely welcoming. There’s a positive energy here and a heart for others,” said Vordtriede-Patton

Vordtriede-Patton has 30 years of experience in higher education, ranging from her early years as an instructor and assistant professor to serving as the founding dean of the School of Natural Sciences & Mathematics at Columbia College in Columbia, Mo.

Within the last decade, Vordtriede-Patton’s work includes management and professional development of faculty and staff, assessment and coordination of academic departments, strategic planning, budget management, accreditation and assessment reviews, and oversight of recruiting, marketing and advising.

“Sarah Vordtriede-Patton has quickly demonstrated her considerable skills and expertise in her first few weeks at QU,” said Brian McGee, PhD, president of Quincy University. “Her Midwestern roots and many years of leadership experience in private and Catholic higher education make her a great match for Quincy and our university community.”

Vordtriede-Patton is a VALUE Institute certified scorer for the Association of American Colleges & Universities and a peer reviewer for the Chicago-based Higher Learning Commission, one of the largest accreditors of colleges and universities in the United States. Prior to serving at Columbia College, Vordtriede-Patton was the Interim Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Iowa’s St. Ambrose University where she worked for 15 years.

Vordtriede-Patton earned a PhD in Biology from St. Louis University. She also has an Education Specialist degree in Higher Education Administration from University of Missouri Kansas City. For eight years, Vordtriede-Patton served in the United States Army Reserve as a Medical Entomologist, including three years at the rank of captain.

“I look forward to partnering with the dedicated and accomplished QU faculty in guiding students in discovering and living out their full potential in service to their communities and society at large,” said Vordtriede-Patton.

Founded in 1860 by Franciscan friars, Quincy University is a small Catholic university emphasizing the sciences, liberal arts and the professions. Quincy University offers undergraduate, graduate and adult education programs integrating practical experience and Franciscan values. Faculty and advisors work with students to design customized success plans to help them graduate on time, find their passion and prepare them for life. QU is a member of NCAA Division II for intercollegiate athletics. For more information, please visit www.quincy.edu or contact the Office of Community Relations at (217) 228-5275 or communityrelations@quincy.edu. Quincy University. Success by Design.