Cherie Dawson-Edwards named UofL's vice provost for faculty affairs

Cherie Dawson-Edwards has been named vice provost for faculty affairs at the University of Louisville. Dawson-Edwards currently serves as UofL’s associate dean for diversity, engagement, culture and climate and associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice in the College of Arts & Sciences. 

As vice provost for faculty affairs, Dawson-Edwards will work with the provost and academic deans to oversee all faculty personnel actions and provide faculty and administrator professional development programs. Her service in the provost office begins Feb. 1, 2022.

Prior to her current role, she served as the department chair for A&S Criminal Justice, director of the A&S Social Change Program and acting director of the Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research.

"She is a passionate educator and a justice-oriented scholar who focuses on the intersection of public policy and criminal justice with a specific focus on race, schools and juvenile justice," said UofL Interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez in an announcement to the university jointly issued with Interim Provost Gerry Bradley. "Throughout her career, she has worked tirelessly for institutional and community change, always striving to bring greater equity and inclusion to the policies and practices of organizations."

Outside of her work at UofL, Dawson-Edwards currently serves as the Kentucky affiliate representative on the national board of the American Civil Liberties Union with a recent appointment as the nationwide ACLU deputy affiliate equity officer, where she ensures that equity and inclusion have a constant presence in the search and placement of organizational leaders. She has also worked with numerous school districts conducting professional development trainings and consulting on racial equity and workplace restorative justice practices. Dawson-Edwards received the 2016 University of Louisville College of Arts & Sciences Community Service Award.

"We are confident that her work will touch every part of our university to ensure our faculty know they are supported," Gonzalez said. "Her personal and professional experience and interests as well as her service to the university make her the ideal person for this role, which is vital to our administration."

Learn more about Cherie Dawson-Edwards here.