Provost announced

Dr. Vernon B. Harper Jr. Named Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

By California State University, Bakersfield

May 2^nd, 2020

Dr. Vernon B. Harper Jr. has been named Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at California State University, Bakersfield, effective immediately. Dr. Harper has served as Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs since January 2019.

CSUB President Lynnette Zelezny announced the appointment today. The Provost is the university’s chief academic officer and serves as its leader when the President is away from campus.

“Dr. Harper’s leadership will advance academic distinction, student success and community impact,” Dr. Zelezny said.

Dr. Harper joined CSU Bakersfield in April 2016 as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Academic Programs. Before coming to CSU Bakersfield, Dr. Harper served as Associate Provost at Wilkes University of Pennsylvania and Associate Vice President at West Chester University in Pennsylvania.

“I am so honored to be asked by President Zelezny to serve in this important role. Equally, I look forward to working with the students, faculty and staff to enhance this marvelous community and institution.”

Dr. Harper has led several important initiatives to raise the university’s academic profile, foster community collaborations and improve student success. Recently, Dr. Harper has led a revolutionary partnership with Bakersfield College to improve transfer articulation and graduation rates.

During the selection process for the Provost position, the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate underscored the importance of the following qualities: fair, steady, competent and trusted leadership from an academic with deep experience at CSUB in academic programs and the graduation initiative. Dr. Harper defines these qualities and his rich experience in the academy will bring stable continuity as we move forward in our collective mission to serve our deserving students.

In 1992, Dr. Harper received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from Penn State University. After the bachelor’s degree, Dr. Harper earned his Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies from West Chester University. He went on to study in Washington, D.C. at Howard University, where he earned a Ph.D. in Communication Studies in 1999, and was a Frederick Douglass Institute Fellow. Dr. Harper also served his country in the U.S. Army Reserve, earning a U.S. Army Achievement medal.

A professor of communication who has conducted research on gender differences and electronic communications, Dr. Harper is the author of many scholarly articles, which span the fields of psychometrics, electronic communication, assessment and budget and planning.

Dr. Harper lives in Bakersfield with his wife, Erika J. Harper, Ph.D., who teaches in the Psychology Department at CSUB. Married for over 20 years, Drs. Vernon and Erika Harper have three young children: Justice, Alexandra and Gabriel.