Kean Associate Provost Laura Baecher, Ed.D., Selected for Prestigious Leadership Academy

Kean University Associate Provost for Faculty Development Laura Baecher, Ed.D., was selected by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) for its prestigious Becoming a Provost Academy. 

The Academy, held in Indianapolis in mid-July, provided professional development and training to 30 experienced academic leaders from throughout the U.S. Participants included deans, assistant or associate provosts and other academic administrators. 

Baecher called the Academy “an incredible opportunity to connect with campus academic leaders across the country at regional public institutions very similar to Kean.” 

“The learning focused on the challenges we are navigating in higher education to increase public trust, to ensure we steward our institutions with integrity, vision and compassion, and to advance opportunities to achieve excellent education for all,” Baecher said. 

Baecher joined Kean in 2023 as associate provost following a national search. She is committed to the success of all full- and part-time Kean faculty, leading related strategic planning, design and programming, as well as policy and resource creation.  

Prior to arriving at Kean, Baecher served as assistant dean for academic pedagogy and technology at the City University of New York and was professor of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at Hunter College for over 20 years. 

Kean Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs David S. Birdsell, Ph.D., said the Academy provided a great opportunity for Baecher. 

“Dr. Baecher is providing distinguished leadership as Associate Provost for Faculty Development,” he said. “I am delighted that Laura was selected and know that she represented Kean well.”