Amber Smallwood, vice provost of academic innovation, will be leaving UTA at the end of the month. Smallwood has accepted the position of senior vice provost of faculty affairs for the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth and is set to begin Oct. 1.
Smallwood began her career at UTA in 2020 as the assistant vice provost of academic planning and policy where she coordinated the University’s academic program (credit-bearing) portfolio including development and review of new programs and periodic review of existing programs. She worked closely with academic units, student success, institutional effectiveness and the University’s Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges liaison to enhance UTA’s curriculum development, redesign, and reporting.
Most recently, Smallwood served as the vice provost of academic innovation responsible for leading and incubating strategic initiatives and reshaping and developing infrastructure to enhance the University’s portfolio of online programs.
During her time at UTA, Smallwood successfully led a number of high-impact initiatives, including launching the UTA Summer Microcredential Institute for faculty to raise awareness of and enhance support for embedding high-demand industry-recognized skills in degree programs and courses; expanding awareness of credit for prior learning opportunities; enhancing transfer credit decision-making and award; modernizing teaching technologies and; leading the development and implementation of a seat projection model for high-demand courses to support colleges in planning and resource allocation. In 2022, under her leadership, UTA received the Texas Higher Education Star Award, recognizing several projects that transformed the online experience.
“Amber has been instrumental in reviewing and reimagining our programs, processes, and practices. I offer my sincerest gratitude to Amber for her effective leadership and wish her the best in her future endeavors,” explained Tamara Brown, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.
Academic Affairs staff will be working closely with Amber during this transition. The Provost will soon launch a national search for her replacement. Further details will be shared at a later date.
