University Provost

Welcome to the Office of the University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Benjamin Rifkin, Ph.D., interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs

It is an extraordinary honor and privilege for to serve as FDU’s Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, and I am deeply grateful to President Avaltroni for inviting me to do so. I am happy to accept this invitation because I am deeply committed to serving our University as we sharpen our focus on the needs of our diverse learners at all four of our campuses, and I believe I can make meaningful contributions to our FDU community.

I know that all the faculty and staff at Fairleigh Dickinson University are dedicated to providing an education — for all our students — that is personal, global and transformational. As FDU’s Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, I will work tirelessly to enhance the power of the education we offer to all our learners, because this is how our students can achieve the goals they set for themselves and the way they can realize their fondest hopes and dreams.

As FDU’s interim chief academic officer, I will work closely with FDU’s college deans and school directors and all our faculty to continuously improve our university’s academic programs and develop and implement new academic programs that meet the needs and interests of our current and future students and their communities. I also uphold and implement our academic policies so that our graduates’ diplomas and certificates are seen as impressive credentials in local, national and global communities. To that end, I will continue to develop academic partnerships both within our University as well as beyond the borders of our four campuses, creating more opportunities for our students and faculty.

In the past twenty years, we have seen remarkable change in New Jersey, in the United States and around the world. As FDU’s Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, I will be keeping my eye on economic and social trends in order to be sure that we are preparing our students for the ever-changing world in which they will take their place as global professionals and global citizens.

I look forward to meeting with current students and alumni, faculty, staff, community partners and prospective community partners to learn more about your experiences and how FDU can continue to transform students’ lives, both on our campuses and in our local and global communities. Please reach out to me any time to start or continue a conversation about FDU and you!

Sincerely,

Benjamin Rifkin, Ph.D.
Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs