Welcome from Provost Patrick V. Farrell

Patrick V. Farrell joined Lehigh University as provost and vice president for academic affairs on July 24th. As provost, Dr. Farrell will serve as the university's chief academic officer. His responsibilities include leading efforts to attract, recruit and retain highly-talented individuals to Lehigh, as well as playing a central role in working to ensure the success of institutional goals over the next decade.

Dr. Farrell says he is impressed with Lehigh's vision for the future.

"I think it's exciting to see the energy around the new strategic plan," he says. "I sense a readiness to say, 'Let's see what the Lehigh of the future will look like and let's start making that vision a reality. There is a real enthusiasm and optimism about not only what Lehigh has been, but what it can be in the future. And people are anxious to take that on."

Before coming to Lehigh, Dr. Farrell served as the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 2006 until December 2008. He is a professor of mechanical engineering with more than 25 years experience as a teacher, researcher and leader.

During his time as provost at UW-Madison, Dr. Farrell served as chief operating officer for the Madison campus and led the university's two-year reaccreditation self-study initiative, which involved input from thousands of people on and off campus.

Dr. Farrell also led the successful campus-wide effort to define a set of learning outcomes expected of all UW-Madison graduates, known as "The Wisconsin Experience." And he made recruiting, hiring and retaining outstanding and diverse faculty, staff and students a priority, as well as serving as a strong advocate for student access and affordability.

Dr. Farrell is a member of the National Science Foundation's Engineering Advisory Committee and a Fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers. He has taught courses in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, and has written more than 90 articles for reviewed publications.

Highlights

Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century Board of Trustees, October 2007

Work/Life Balance for Faculty

Additional Information

Academics Research Student Affairs