Springfield College Promotes Wyld to Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

Dr. Jean A. Wyld has been promoted to Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Springfield College, President Mary-Beth Cooper announced recently. Wyld has served as vice president for academic affairs at Springfield College since 2001.

As the College’s chief academic officer, Wyld has broad responsibility for leading Springfield College’s five academic schools and the degree programs offered at the College’s main campus and nine regional campus locations. In addition, she supervises all academic support services, centers, and departments including the Babson Library, the Doggett International Center, the Academic Success Center, the Advising Center, the Registrar, the Office of Educator Preparation, and all other facets of the College’s academic life.

“Jean continues to provide outstanding academic leadership for Springfield College,” said Cooper. “She has won high praise for her administrative aptitude as a creative problem solver in service of academic excellence, and combined with a strong passion for Springfield College, she’s well equipped to lead us through the challenges facing higher education.”

Wyld’s promotion to Provost also recognizes and reflects the complexity of the academic programs offered by Springfield College. The College enrolls over 5,000 students in the undergraduate, graduate, weekend, and regional campus programs offered through the School of Arts, Sciences and Professional Studies, the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, the School of Health Science and Rehabilitation Studies, the School of Social Work, and the School of Human Services. Through these schools, the College offers bachelor degrees in over 50 disciplines, 20 master’s degree programs and 3 doctoral degrees, the PhD, the Doctor of Physical Therapy, and the Doctor of Psychology. 

Prior to joining Springfield College, she served as the chief academic officer and dean of academic affairs at York College of Pennsylvania, and as senior vice president for academic affairs at Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire. While at Colby-Sawyer, she was selected as an American Council of Education fellow and served her fellowship year at Boston College.

She has held the position of chair of the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE) of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), where she provided leadership in developing and applying the standards for accreditation that govern the nearly 300 public and private Colleges and Universities in New England and abroad accredited by NEASC. Recognized for her work as chair, Wyld was presented with the Jacob Ludes III Leadership Award during the 2014 NEASC annual conference.

Wyld has been active in professional and community service throughout her career, earning the Town Gown Award while at Colby-Sawyer College, serving as a member of the national editorial board for BioScience, and as a member of the Springfield School Volunteers Board of Directors. 

Founded in 1885, Springfield College is known worldwide for the guiding principles of its Humanics philosophy—educating students in spirit, mind and body for leadership in service to others. With its foundation of academic excellence and rich athletic heritage, Springfield College prepares students with real-world leadership skills for careers that transform lives and communities. The college offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of health sciences, human and social services, sport management and movement studies, education, business, and the arts and sciences. It also offers doctoral programs in physical education, physical therapy, and counseling psychology. The college is ranked in the 2015 edition of “Best Colleges” in the top tier of “Best Regional Universities – North Region” by U.S.News Media Group, and is designated as a premier Leadership Development Center by the YMCA of the USA. More than 5,000 traditional, nontraditional and international students study at its main campus in Springfield, Mass., and at its School of Human Services campuses across the country.