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President Brooke Barnett announced today the appointment of Alicia Slater as Rollins’ new vice president for academic affairs and provost. Slater will begin her tenure on July 1.

Slater brings more than two decades of experience in higher-education leadership to Rollins. She currently serves as senior associate provost, dean of science, and professor of biology at Marist University in Poughkeepsie, New York, where she has served since 2018, following 16 years at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. She holds a PhD and MS in biology from Virginia Tech and a BS in biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is also a graduate of the American Academic Leadership Institute’s Senior Leadership Academy, a selective national program requiring provost or presidential sponsorship.

“We selected Dr. Slater to lead the College’s academic enterprise strategically, collaboratively, and with a unifying vision that will advance the academic mission of Rollins College,” says President Barnett. “We are confident that she will be a transparent and visionary leader who is committed to the well-being and success of the campus community.”

At Marist, Slater served on the steering committee for a strategic planning initiative that was instrumental in shaping Marist 100, the university’s seven-year strategic plan. She also led the strategic planning process for the School of Science at Marist and played a key role in improving student retention at both Marist and Stetson, where she received the Hand Award for Excellence in Research. In addition, her expertise in grant funding helped Marist secure a $1.4 million National Science Foundation award to support students. Her thought leadership is further reflected in her extensive portfolio of scholarly publications, conference presentations, active participation in professional associations, and meaningful contributions to advancing the field of higher education.

Slater’s leadership in higher education is also demonstrated through her service as an executive board member of both the American Conference of Academic Deans and the New York State American Council on Education Women’s Network. At Marist, she established clinical partnerships that enabled enrollment of the first full cohort of physician-assistant students and expanded pathways into graduate programs through new articulation agreements with other institutions. In recognition of her contributions to student success at Stetson, she was appointed to the endowed Hollis Chair for Health and Wellness and was a two-time recipient of the First-Year Student Advocate Award.

“I was drawn to this opportunity by Rollins’ dedication to the liberal arts and its teacher-scholar model, focus on student success, and innovative approach to general education,” says Slater. “Our society urgently needs graduates who can think critically, communicate effectively, engage constructively across differences, and are committed to lifelong learning.”

The provost search committee—composed of faculty, staff, student, and trustee representatives and led by co-chairs President Brooke Barnett and physics professor Anne Murdaugh—conducted an extensive national search and chose Slater from nearly 250 applicants.

Slater will succeed Donald Davidson, who will retire on July 1 after 37 years of service at Rollins.

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