Renée Ann Cramer Named New Provost
Renee Ann Cramer.
Cramer will begin work as the college’s chief academic officer on July 1
by Craig Layne
Renée Ann Cramer has been named Dickinson's new provost and dean of the college. Cramer, who is currently serving as deputy provost for academic affairs at Drake University in Iowa, will join Dickinson on July 1. Cramer’s appointment follows a nationwide search and an extremely competitive review of more than 70 candidates.
“Renée is a dynamic and creative leader and scholar with extensive higher-education experience who will work with us to continue to innovate and provide a world-class liberal-arts education to our students,” said President John E. Jones III ’77, P’11. “She has been described by her peers as student-focused, collaborative, visionary and passionate about the role of education. I am excited to have her join the president’s leadership team.”
As Dickinson’s chief academic officer, Cramer will work with the college’s faculty and staff to deliver Dickinson’s life-changing education, including its focus on global education, sustainability and civic engagement. She will be the primary steward and champion of the institution’s academic mission, including teaching and research.
“I am dedicated to the kind of education that Dickinson provides: an innovative liberal-arts curriculum with a focus on global engagement and environmental sustainability—rooted in tradition and forward thinking,” said Cramer. “I'm eager to work with President Jones and his leadership team and to be a part of a community of excellent faculty and staff, in the service of such outstanding students. My son, Wyatt, and I are looking forward to getting to know Carlisle and the surrounding area.”
At Drake, Cramer has led two quality initiatives for accreditation with Iowa’s accreditation agency, resulting in changes to university priorities and culture around diversity, equity, inclusion and justice, and also on increasing student retention and success. Additionally, she served as faculty senate president, co-leader of the Strategic Diversity Action Team and chair of the Law, Politics & Society department. Cramer is also the founding co-executive director for the Center for Public Democracy, which works to model civil discourse around challenging issues. Prior to Drake, Cramer taught at California State University. The author of three books and numerous scholarly articles, she holds doctorate and master’s degrees from New York University in political science and a bachelor’s degree from Bard College.
Cramer will be succeeding Neil B. Weissman, who has served Dickinson since 1998 as dean of the college and since 2002 as provost. In October, Weissman announced he would step down from his role as provost and return to the faculty as professor of liberal arts, where he will teach, conduct scholarship and work on special projects and presidential initiatives. The longest-serving provost in Dickinson history, Weissman also was the college’s interim president for the 2016-17 academic year.
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Published April 13, 2023