Carroll College is pleased to announce that it has hired Dr. Colin Irvine as Carroll’s new vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, effective July 1, 2015.
"We were fortunate to have a number of very qualified applicants," said Carroll College President Dr. Tom Evans. "Dr. Irvine rose to the top of this talented pool because his demonstrated ability to inspire, build consensus and produce results, coupled with his leadership experiences, most closely aligned with Carroll’s current strategic interests."
Irvine is an associate professor of English at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received a Ph.D. in English from Marquette University in 2002, M.A. in American Studies from the University of Notre Dame in 1993 and B.A. in English and History from Carroll College in 1991.
"To have a chance to return to Carroll and to give back to the school by serving its faculty, staff, and students is an absolute dream come true," said Irvine. "Carroll is such an incredibly special place, and it’s one that changed my life in ways I can hardly put in words. And while there are many, many things that make it unique, I believe strongly that the key to the college's success has been and remains its dedicated and caring professors. I am thus very eager to work closely with them and with the entire staff to build on Carroll’s rich traditions and to make the most of the exciting opportunities before us."
Complementing his broad background in teaching and scholarship, Irvine has been very active with a number of program initiatives and committees at Augsburg including his current roles as Coordinator for Undergraduate Research, Fellow for the Center for Teaching and Learning, and Director of the College’s Writing across the Curriculum. He is also the recipient of two Fulbright Awards and has had the opportunity to both teach and study internationally. These experiences have made him particularly well suited to address issues paramount to Carroll College such as curriculum review and revision, undergraduate research, global education, and expansion of new and existing majors and programs.
"Dr. Irvine’s passion for teaching and learning, his commitment to service, and the breadth of his scholarly agenda make him uniquely positioned to serve as the leader of Carroll College’s excellent academic program," said Dr. Barbara Farley, president of Illinois College and former vice president of academic affairs and dean of the college at Augsburg College. "He earned a reputation at Augsburg College as a talented professor who inspired his students to achieve more than they ever dreamed possible. Dr. Irvine is deeply committed to the success of his alma mater; I know he will serve the faculty and broader Carroll College community with distinction."
Dr. Irvine’s official start date is July 1, 2015.