Hollins University President Nancy Gray has announced that Jeanine Silveira Stewart, Ph.D., has been named Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). As the second highest ranking officer of the university, she will serve as the chief academic officer and will be responsible for planning, administering, and enhancing the academic program. The VPAA at Hollins also oversees a number of academic support areas, including the Horizon program for adult women returning to school, graduate programs, international programs, library and technical services, athletics and riding, the office of the registrar, and the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum.

Dr. Stewart comes to Hollins from Washington and Lee University, where she has been a member of the faculty since 1994, most recently as Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience. She also served W&L as interim Dean of the College from 2003 to 2005, where as the College’s chief academic officer she worked with 135 faculty in 21 departments. As Dean, she was actively involved in curricular development, budgetary oversight, and strategic planning as well as faculty hiring, orientation and support with an emphasis on enhancing diversity. Stewart also served as Associate Dean of the College from 2001 to 2003, during which time she oversaw the updating and implementation of several university policies associated with the academic lives of undergraduate students.

"Jeanine is a highly regarded member of the Washington and Lee community, a proven administrator and a valued member of our psychology department,” said Washington and Lee President Kenneth Ruscio. “We congratulate both her and Hollins University on her appointment. She will be missed but she leaves Washington and Lee with the respect and admiration of her colleagues and students."

A native of Rhode Island, Dr. Stewart holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in psychology from Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, and a Ph.D. in sensory and systems neuroscience from the University of Virginia. She completed her postdoctoral training in neurobiological development at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center. In recent years, Dr. Stewart has served on the development committee for Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity, while also serving as faculty advisor to the W&L student chapter of Habitat for Humanity. She was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society in 2006, and is a member of the Association for Psychological Science and the Council for Undergraduate Research.

Dr. Stewart officially becomes Vice President for Academic Affairs at Hollins on July 1. She succeeds Dr. Wayne Markert, who is returning to teaching at Hollins after serving for over a decade as Hollins’ chief academic officer and interim president.