Julia A. Upton, RSM, Ph.D.
Provost
Julia A. Upton, RSM, Ph.D., Professor of
Theology and Religious Studies, became St. John's University's
Provost in 2000. As Provost, she is responsible for all
academic affairs including oversight of the University's six
schools and colleges on five campuses, as well as setting strategic
goals for the academic sector. Previously, Dr. Upton had been
Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning from
1994-2000. She has been a member of the Department of
Theology and Religious Studies since 1979 and continues to teach a
Theology or Discover New York course each
year.
As Provost, Dr. Upton has focused on
creating an academic community that challenges our students at the
highest level, supporting faculty research, as well as developing
cutting-edge resources in computing and science education.
Students discover the richness of New York as freshmen in the core
Discover New York course and subsequently encounter a constellation
of opportunities for intellectual discovery. These include
the Honors program, recently enhanced as a University-wide program;
opportunities for faculty-directed research through competitive
programs such as the McNair Scholars and Women in Science, which is
one of 13 Luce-funded science programs in the country; diverse
challenges provided by Academic Service-Learning; as well as
Living-Learning communities in the residence halls.
As co-chair of the Executive Planning
Committee, Dr. Upton has spearheaded the development of a five-year
academic plan that was approved by the Board of Trustees in the
spring of 2005. This plan centers on raising the academic
profile, emphasizing writing across the curriculum, and developing
a University-wide plan to assess the core competencies.
Special effort to support faculty research resulted in the revision
of teaching loads in St. John's College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences. St. John's is also
currently beginning a $20 million renovation of the science
building.
As part of the award-winning Academic
Computing Initiative, all first-year students receive a
wireless-accessible laptop computer as part of their educational
package. St. John's was voted one of Intel's "Most Unwired"
universities for creating widespread access to technology and
enabling students to work on projects, link to class bulletins, and
check email at many wireless "hot spots" across
campus.
Dr. Upton is a member of the Liturgical
Commission of the Diocese of Brooklyn. She has served on the
International Commission on English in the Liturgy and as an
advisor to the national Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy.
Her theological research centers upon sacramental theology, the
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, and reconciliation.
She has published five books and numerous articles. Dr.
Upton is a graduate of Fordham University, St. John's University,
and Ohio Dominican University.