Provost Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg has appointed Reginald A. Wilburn, PhD, as Associate Provost of Undergraduate Affairs beginning August 1, 2022, to lead TCU’s mission to support the continuous enhancement of undergraduate student education and experience. He will collaborate with deans, chairs, faculty senate, faculty members, undergraduate council and the provost’s council to support high-quality, innovative undergraduate programs, especially in providing equity in education and experience to students across demographics.
As associate provost of undergraduate affairs, Wilburn will initially focus on three strategic initiatives: champion undergraduate student success, support undergraduate education for the future, and support innovative advising platforms and protocols. He also will examine the undergraduate student population that TCU aspires to educate and the efficacy of traditional and non-traditional models of education.
“These inspirational initiatives align perfectly with my leadership goals of providing our transformative scholar-citizens with the premium education they and the world have always deserved,” Wilburn said.
“This new role in Academic Affairs exemplifies the importance of undergraduate education at TCU. Dr. Wilburn will utilize his collaborative leadership style and experience in strategic planning to strengthen partnerships with Student Affairs, Academic Advising, and Student Access and Accommodation, to help TCU experience even higher levels of student achievement for all undergraduate students,” Provost Dahlberg said.
Wilburn’s accomplishments include visionary strategic planning, transparent decision making, shared governance, and championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness. As a teacher and administrator, Wilburn has inspired collaboration among faculty, staff, students and alumni to focus on student retention, signature program development, faculty development, enrollment management, academic standards, and curriculum development, enrichment and management.
Wilburn joined TCU as dean of the former School of Interdisciplinary Studies after serving at the University of New Hampshire from 2007 to 2021 as professor of African-American Literature and Milton Studies and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts. He was honored with the UNH Center for Humanities Faculty Fellowship, designated a Leadership Fellow for the AGB Institute for Leadership and Governance in Higher Education, awarded the UNH Faculty Award for Social Justice, and presented with the President’s Commission on the Status of Women Faculty Award. He served as faculty team leader and curriculum coordinator for the Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers from 2002 to 2017. Wilburn holds a PhD and MA in English from the University of Connecticut, and BA in English from the University of the District of Columbia.
“I am inspired to affirm the power of undergraduate students’ education, to open TCU’s doors even wider to a diverse and eager student population, and to study and strategize the best ways to serve our undergraduate students today and in the future,” Wilburn said.