November

There’s a new deputy (provost) in town

Sandra Haynes brings 22 years of experience as a faculty member and administrator to her new role, starting Dec. 1.

November 1, 2016

Haynes currently serves as dean of MSU Denver’s College of Professional Studies, where she also is a professor in the Human Services Department. She brings to this new position 22 years of experience as a faculty member and administrator at the University; 16 of those years have been in increasingly responsible leadership positions in administration. During her years of service, Haynes has been involved in developing, updating and implementing more than a dozen strategic plans both inside and outside the University.

Haynes was a first-generation, low-income student herself. She started her college education at what was then Metropolitan State College. She knows firsthand the transformational value of an education. She recognizes how important it is for institutions of higher education such as MSU Denver to be of the community, not just in the community. Thus, she is a perfect choice to continue MSU Denver’s work “to become the preeminent public urban university in the nation.” She also realizes that a University education must equip its graduates with the tools necessary for fulfilled lives as informed individuals, as active citizens and as effective contributors to their own and their world’s prosperity and general welfare.

She has worked successfully to bring external resources to campus in the form of gifts, grants, contracts, and public-private partnerships. Probably the two best known of these efforts are the creation of the interdisciplinary program – One World One Water Center for Urban Water Education and Stewardship, launched by a $1 million donation – and the public-private partnership that created our Hotel and Hospitality Learning Center, which has exceeded its performance targets and is already bringing significant revenues to support scholarships and other campus initiatives.

Haynes has exceptional interpersonal skills, which will be key to her success in this critically important position. Her background in psychology and her participation in a number of professional development programs have prepared her for this next step in her leadership career.

Provost Vicki Golich noted that she is “ecstatic to have completed this search and to appoint Sandra to this position. I have had the opportunity to observe Sandra in action during my seven years on campus and can attest personally that her skill set fits the needs of this position exquisitely.”

One of Haynes’ first responsibilities will be to oversee the searches for a new associate vice president for Faculty Affairs and one for Academic and Curricular Effectiveness. MSU Denver will act soon to appoint an interim dean for the College of Professional Studies and then launch a national search for the next permanent dean.