Syracuse Sun

Chancellor Kent Syverud today announced the appointment of Lois Agnew to the position of interim vice chancellor and provost. Agnew, who has served as associate provost for academic programs since July 2023, will assume her new responsibilities effective July 1.

“Lois is an outstanding scholar, skilled administrator and trusted leader at Syracuse University,” says Chancellor Syverud. “In working with Lois, I have found her to be a source of wise counsel, sound judgment and strategic leadership. I am confident she will transition seamlessly into this new position and be an outstanding steward of the academic and research enterprise.”

Over the last year, Agnew has been instrumental in advancing several of the University’s strategic priorities, including through her work serving as a member of the Academic Strategic Plan Steering Committee and as chair of the Curricular Thematic Group. Under her leadership, the team in academic programs has accomplished the following:

- Worked with the Retention Council to develop recommendations to improve retention and graduation rates among high-risk student populations;

- Enacted measures to expand access for transfer students, including refining the process for transfer credit review and creating a new transfer agreement with Onondaga Community College;

- Supported the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising in a record year of success, including one Marshall Scholar, one Beinecke Scholar, five Goldwater Scholars and 17 Fulbright Scholars;

- Recruited and hired a new director for the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence;

- Took steps to prepare the University for the upcoming accreditation process; and

- Established structures to strengthen and streamline curricular review.

“I am grateful for the Chancellor’s confidence in me to serve in this role at such a pivotal time in our university’s history,” says Agnew. “Despite the headwinds facing higher education, Syracuse University has remained focused on advancing our academic mission and vision. I look forward to working with the Chancellor, the leadership team and my faculty colleagues to continue elevating the University as a preeminent global research institution that prepares our students for success.”

A member of the Syracuse University community since 2004 and professor of writing and rhetoric, Agnew has held several leadership roles throughout her tenure. Prior to her time as associate provost, Agnew served as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), Syracuse University’s largest academic unit. Before that, she was appointed associate dean of curriculum, innovation, and pedagogy in July 2017. Other administrative positions held by Agnew include interim chair of the Department of African American Studies; chair of the Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition; and director of undergraduate studies for the writing program.

During Agnew’s time in A&S, she played a key role on teams developing proposed revisions to its liberal arts core; established a professional development program fostering community among teaching faculty; coordinated health humanities and digital humanities integrated learning majors; and organized A&S’s annual undergraduate research festival. She has received multiple honors including:

- The 2015 William Wasserstrom Prize for Teaching Graduate Students,

- The 2011 Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award,

- The 2007 Meredith Teaching Recognition Award.

Agnew's research specializes in rhetorical history. She has published more than 25 journal articles, book chapters, along with three books. Before joining Syracuse University, Agnew was assistant professor at Rockford University (formerly Rockford College) in Illinois where she chaired its English department while directing its Writing Center.

Agnew earned a Ph.D. in English from Texas Christian University alongside both B.A. & M.A degrees from Texas Christian University's Arlington campus.

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