Noted Psychologist Named Provost & VP of Antioch Santa Barbara

Antioch University Santa Barbara (AUSB) is pleased to announce that Dr. Nancy Leffert has accepted the new position of Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Dr. Leffert assumes dual responsibility for both the academic and administrative/service sides of the University effective April 1.
Dr. Leffert received her Ph.D. in Child Psychology in 1991 from the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota. Her research has focused on adolescent development, particularly individual and contextual processes contributing to the promotion of positive adolescent development. This work has made substantial contributions to the applied dimensions of the field of youth development.

Dr. Leffert is the author of numerous scientific articles, books, and book chapters. She is a nationally known researcher, author, speaker, and educational administrator. Before moving to Santa Barbara, she was a Senior Research Scientist at Search Institute in Minneapolis, MN, where her work was recognized nationally for its contribution to positive models of human development, and specifically in terms of understanding positive factors contributing to healthy child and adolescent development. During the past nine years, while serving as Associate Dean for Program Evaluation and Associate Dean for Student Services in the School of Psychology at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, she has developed an expertise in issues of institutional effectiveness, accreditation, and assessment of student outcomes.

Dr. Leffert takes over her appointment from former Dean Richard Whitney as he becomes Executive Dean of Institutional Research at AUSB, where among other duties he oversees the university’s accreditations and the development of new programs, including a new MFA in writing for visual media.

For more information on Antioch University Santa Barbara, please visit www.antiochsb.edu.

Antioch College was founded in 1852 in Yellow Springs, Ohio.~ Horace Mann, Antioch College’s first president, was a renowned educator, architect of the American Public School System, social reformer and abolitionist.~ Antioch today is the legacy of Horace Mann’s original vision, and an example of the success of educational experimentation, innovation and diversity of thought.~ Antioch continues to break down educational barriers and rebuild them as educational opportunities.~ Since its creation in 1852, Antioch has evolved from a small liberal arts college to a multi-campus university system with five campuses located across the nation including Antioch University New England in Keene, New Hampshire; Antioch University Seattle in Washington; Antioch University Los Angeles and Antioch University Santa Barbara in California; and Antioch University McGregor in Yellow Springs, Ohio.~The multiple campuses of the University nurture in their students the knowledge, skills and habits of reflection to act as lifelong learners, democratic leaders and global citizens who live lives of meaning and purpose.