WASHINGTON, PA (May 8, 2019) –Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) has selected Jeffrey A. Frick, Ph.D. as the institution’s new Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College. Currently serving at St. Norbert College as Dean of the College and Academic Vice President, Frick brings more than two decades of experience to his new role at W&J. He will join W&J this summer at a date to be determined.
“Dr. Frick brings a wealth of experience in academic leadership and has a well-deserved reputation for program innovation and enhancement,” said W&J President John C. Knapp, Ph.D. “He is a person of integrity who is well-respected by his colleagues.”
While at St. Norbert College, Frick increased the diversity of the faculty with hires for both new and existing programs. He also implemented or improved a number of internal procedures, including reforming the tenure and promotion process, leading the implementation of a new core curriculum, and launching a graduate program in business and a new undergraduate major in integrated studies. He also worked with the president and a donor to expand funding for faculty development initiatives and improve faculty salaries, and in collaboration with the Vice President for Business and Finance, provided oversight of more than $50 million in capital improvements.
Frick also established a number of partnerships with other institutions for the benefit of student learning, including a 3:3 partnership with Marquette Law School, a 3:3 (or 4:3) partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin Pharmacy School, and a dual-degree program for students from the College of International Relations, Nihon University. He also created new positions within Academic Affairs to support student success.
“I am thrilled to be joining the W&J community,” said Frick. “I felt at home during my campus visit and I am eager to serve an institution that shares my commitment to the liberal arts, high-impact learning opportunities, student success, and student-faculty interaction.”
Prior to his appointment at St. Norbert, Frick served at Illinois Wesleyan University as a professor of chemistry and chair of the Department of Chemistry, Acting Registrar, Assistant Provost and Registrar, and finally as Associate Provost for Academic Services.
Frick was selected for membership in the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars in 2017, and has been a member of the Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective academic honor society, since 1995. Earlier in his career he served as a reviewer for various NSF funded programs. He also has been a reviewer for the Journal of Organic Chemistry, Tetrahedron Letters, Organic Letters, Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, and the Journal of Chemical Education. He currently serves as a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission, a position he has held since 2008. He is the author of 17 peer-reviewed publications, two published chemistry text books, and has presented at numerous academic conferences.
Frick holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Loyola University Chicago, and a bachelor of arts in chemistry from Augustana College.
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.
