I am pleased to announce that Dr. Jason Garvey has been appointed Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, effective December 4, 2023. Dr. Garvey is the Friedman-Hipps Green and Gold Associate Professor of Education and the Interim Vice Chair in the Department of Education at the University of Vermont. He is an accomplished scholar and administrator with a Ph.D. in College Student Personnel Administration with a concentration in Measurement, Statistics, and Evaluation from the University of Maryland, College Park. He also holds an MA in School Psychology from The Ohio State University. Dr. Garvey is an interdisciplinary researcher specializing in student success, teaching and learning, higher education policy, and statistics and using data to drive strategic planning efforts. Throughout his career, he has successfully developed and led strategic research activities, providing valuable insights to senior university leaders and policymakers on mission progress and strategic objectives. Dr. Garvey possesses a strong understanding of data infrastructures in higher education, including the regulatory and public relations needs in postsecondary education. One of his notable achievements is his current grant project in partnership with the American Association for the Advancement of Science entitled “Catalyzing a Data Infrastructure to Support LGBTQ Inclusion.” This mixed-methods project addresses systemic barriers to the collection and use of sexual orientation and gender identity data in institutional research with the aim of increasing success for queer and trans people in STEM fields.

Dr. Garvey’s ability to balance multiple projects simultaneously has fostered collaborative and equitable partnerships while supporting institutional effectiveness. He is passionate about working with emerging researchers. As a faculty member, he has taught graduate courses in student affairs research, student outcome assessment, quantitative research methods, teaching in higher education, college students and contexts, and student development theory.

Before assuming a faculty role, Dr. Garvey held a variety of positions in university administration, including roles in student affairs assessment, undergraduate research, academic advising, and queer and trans student services. He also served as a Senior Research Associate for Rankin & Associates, a consulting firm that provides institutional experiential climate assessment to colleges and universities.

I want to express my gratitude to members of the search committee, led by Dr. Jeralyn Haraldsen, Director of Research Development, for their valuable time and expertise in identifying a superb group of candidates for this position.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Garvey and welcoming him to his new position at the University of Vermont. I look forward to working with him as a member of my leadership team.