UNH Today

Jeannette E. Riley ’91G will be the University of New Hampshire’s next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, the university announced April 22. Riley will assume her duties on June 30. 

Currently the dean of the University of Rhode Island’s College of Arts and Sciences, Riley is a seasoned academic leader and noted scholar.  

“I am thrilled to welcome Jen back to UNH and to my leadership team,” UNH President Elizabeth Chilton says. “Her wealth of experience at public research universities, particularly in change management, and her track record of engaging stakeholder groups in strategic planning and execution, will be critical as we position UNH for continued success.”   

Since joining URI as dean in 2017, Riley has grown the profile and prestige of her college, integrating online programs, launching a new budget model, forging new partnerships with area schools and businesses, and expanding experiential learning opportunities for undergraduates.  

“Jen brings a demonstrated commitment to shared governance, advocating for the public universities and promoting student success,” says Michele Dillon, dean of UNH’s College of Liberal Arts, who co-chaired the search committee. “I look forward to working with her for the benefit of UNH and our community.” 

As provost Riley will lead UNH’s academic operations and serve as a key member of the university’s leadership team, working to advance UNH's scholarly, teaching, and outreach ​​missions across campuses, geographies, and modalities. She will oversee all of UNH’s colleges, schools, and institutes, as well as enrollment management, contract administration, and the office of research, economic engagement and outreach. 

“I am genuinely excited to join the University of New Hampshire and to partner with faculty, staff, and university leadership to further UNH’s mission,” Riley said. “I see in UNH an institution ready to tackle the challenges of higher education, a focus to redesign its budgetary model to facilitate growth and innovation, strategic investments to expand impact via online and distance learning, a faculty recognized for its research and impact, and a campus as a whole focused on student well-being and success.” 

Prior to URI, Jen spent 15 years at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where she served as the dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, the academic director of online education and chair of the department of English, among other roles. She holds a doctorate in English from the University of New Mexico, as well as a master’s in English from UNH, and a bachelor’s in English from Colby College.