Message from President Wong: Jennifer Summit

Dear SF State community,

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jennifer Summit as San Francisco State University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

In eighteen months as interim provost, Dr. Summit has provided thoughtful and strategic leadership, with a deliberate focus on both student and faculty success.  Her leadership has been instrumental in our steadily improving graduation and enrollment numbers.  Her ongoing work with our deans, department chairs and other stakeholders has laid a foundation for continuing success ahead.

Among many noteworthy accomplishments, Dr. Summit launched a Budget Advisory Council in support of budget transparency and strategic planning; promoted data-driven decision making by establishing an office of Institutional Analytics; supported faculty development through the establishment of a Center for Excellence and Equity in Teaching and Learning; and spearheaded a year-long analysis of educational equity with the goal of eliminating student opportunity gaps at San Francisco State.

Dr. Summit joined our campus community in 2014 as dean of undergraduate studies to lead a robust set of initiatives dedicated to academic excellence and student success. This included curriculum development and assessment; student academic support and advising; transfer articulation; the Metro College Success Program; and the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement. Acting collaboratively and inclusively, she led the creation of new standards for reviewing academic programs and was Principal Investigator for the Teagle Foundation-funded Initiative, “Faculty-Led Curriculum Redesign in the Majors.”

A specialist in medieval and early modern literature, Dr. Summit received her BA from Vassar College and her Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. She previously served for nearly two decades at Stanford University as a professor of English, department chair, program director, and director of integrative learning. She has remained personally active in scholarly activities, garnering major fellowships and awards from numerous organizations and associations.

SF State will immensely benefit from Dr. Summit’s deep devotion to our educational mission and commitment to the success of every student. I am grateful to the selection committee and its co-Chairs, Interim Vice President Ann Sherman and Associate Professor of American Indian Studies Robert Collins, for bringing this very important recruitment to such a successful conclusion. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Summit on her well-deserved appointment.

Cordially,

Leslie E. Wong

President