Nancy Berner Named University Provost
Thursday, June 15, 2017
University of the South Vice-Chancellor John McCardell has announced the appointment of Nancy Berner as provost of the University, effective July 1. The Board of Regents approved her appointment during its meeting June 13. Berner will succeed John Swallow, who has been named president of Carthage College.
Nancy Berner was named associate provost in 2012 and since that time has been the provost’s primary associate in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the University and in executing strategic and operational initiatives. In recognition of her increasing duties, she was named vice provost for planning and administration in 2014 and vice president for planning and administration in 2016. Prior to joining the provost’s office, she taught biology at Sewanee for 20 years.
“Nancy’s knowledge of the University is deep, and her service has been exemplary,” said McCardell. “It was apparent, after observing Nancy’s commitment and dedication to the University, her collaborative leadership style and the positive results achieved by her in so many varied undertakings, that the best successor to John Swallow was already on campus.”
Berner’s responsibilities and accomplishments during the past five years have been broad and numerous. She took responsibility for the University’s 10-year report to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (its regional accrediting association), a process that resulted in accreditation being reaffirmed last year. She has served as the University’s Title IX coordinator, charged with monitoring compliance with those laws and regulations. And along with Dean of Students W. Marichal Gentry, Berner co-chairs a Task Force on Campus Sexual Climate to ensure that the University’s commitments to address campus sexual misconduct are being maintained and to offer recommendations for improvement.
Berner is the William Henderson Professor of Biology. In addition to her record of teaching excellence, she served as interim associate dean of the College, was elected to two three-year faculty terms on the Board of Trustees, and served on numerous administrative committees including the Campus Master Planning Committee, Advisory Council, Coordinating Committee and Strategic Planning Committee.