Dr. Matt Jacobs to lead UF Student Success

Joe Glover, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Matt Jacobs, director of the Bob Graham Center for Public Service, has been named to a new position as interim associate provost to lead UF Student Success in the Provost’s Office.

The position was created as part of a reorganization of Undergraduate Affairs, with Jacobs overseeing the newly named Office of Undergraduate Education and Student Success and Dr. Cheryl Gater overseeing the Office of Accreditation, Assessment and Curriculum as associate provost.

Dr. Jacobs will lead a team of academic specialists who focus on initiatives and academic programs that promote students’ academic success and lifelong wellbeing in the reorganized areas of academic learning success, experiential and engaged learning, university advising, and academic pathways. Dr. Gater will continue to oversee and guide accreditation, assessment of student learning outcomes and the development of curriculum.

Dr. Jacobs, an associate professor of U.S. and international history, is recognized for his commitment to the education and experiences of undergraduate students. He has won several teaching and education awards, including the CLAS Undergraduate Teacher of the Year in 2010 and CLAS Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education in 2018. He has directed the International Studies Program and Learning without Borders initiative aimed at enhancing the undergraduate experience through internationalization.

Dr. Jacobs will start July 14 and serve a one-year appointment. He will remain in his role as director of the Graham Center until a new director is named.

Dr. Jason Mastrogiovanni, interim associate provost for UF Student Success, will transition fully to his role as associate-in faculty and director of academic and student success in the Hamilton School August 15. 

Dr. Angela Lindner will continue to oversee student support as interim vice provost for undergraduate affairs until August 15. She will then return to the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering to focus on her responsibilities as interim director of the Engineering Leadership Institute.