Dr. Eric Robinson and Dr. Rishi Sriram Appointed as Interim Associate Vice Provosts for Academic Affairs
Eric Robinson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Educational Psychology, and Rishi Sriram, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs, have been appointed as Interim Associate Vice Provosts for Academic Affairs for the 2024-2025 academic year, announced today by J. Wesley (Wes) Null, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Academic Affairs. Their appointments are effective Aug. 1, 2024.
Drs. Robinson and Sriram will oversee the duties and responsibilities previously managed by Chad Eggleston, Ph.D., Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Operations and Advising, who will be transitioning to the role of Vice President of Instruction and Student Engagement at McLennan Community College (MCC) in Waco at the end of July.
“I am excited to announce these interim appointments for Drs. Robinson and Sriram. They are both experienced, highly effective leaders who know Baylor well and who bring the right knowledge and experience to the roles they will be filling for us. I am grateful to them for their willingness to serve Baylor at this time and in these ways,” Dr. Null said.
“I am also excited for Dr. Eggleston as he transitions back to MCC,” he added. “I am grateful to Chad for his excellent work at Baylor and the impact he has had on our students, faculty, and staff over his three years as Assistant Vice Provost in the Paul L. Foster Success Center. He will be an outstanding provost for MCC, and we wish him the very best.”
A farewell reception for Dr. Eggleston will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, July 18, in the lobby of the Paul L. Foster Success Center in the Sid Richardson Building. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to drop by to congratulate Dr. Eggleston and thank him for his service to Baylor.
Appointment focus areas
Dr. Robinson’s specific areas of emphasis will be student accommodations and academic support. He will assist Dr. Null with honor council cases, oversight of the Academic Operations committee, and the review of curriculum proposals. Dr. Robinson also will work closely with the Office of Access and Learning Accommodations (OALA).
“I am honored to serve as interim AVP for Academic Affairs and look forward to working with Dr. Null and his office to continue to support our students,” Dr. Robinson said.
Dr. Sriram’s specific area of emphasis will be academic engagement and student success. He will assist Dr. Null with academic appeals, the streamlining of transfer credit, oversight of the Advising Leadership Council, and all student success initiatives. Dr. Sriram also will oversee the work of the Major Exploration and Success Advising (MESA) office.
“Baylor’s progress in retention, graduation rates, and enhancing the student experience over the last decade is remarkable,” Sriram said. “As the University embarks on a new strategic plan, I have no doubt that Baylor’s mission, size, and resources can make it a national leader in student success, and I look forward to contributing to that goal for the next year.”
Both faculty members will retain their roles as Associate Professors in the School of Education within their respective departments. Dr. Sriram will continue as Graduate Program Director within the Department of Educational Leadership as well as Faculty Steward within Brooks Residential College. Dr. Robinson will continue as Graduate Program Director of Baylor’s School Psychology program.
Dr. Null anticipates finalizing long-term plans for oversight of these duties and responsibilities by the end of the fall semester.