Western Colorado University has named Dr. Pavel Cenkl as its next provost and vice president for academic affairs, choosing a proven leader whose career has focused on experiential learning and connecting students to communities, landscapes, and the real-world problems they’ll be asked to solve.

For Dr. Cenkl, the decision to join Western came down to a shared set of values.

“The way that Western interweaves place-rooted, community-engaged, experiential liberal arts education has been foundational to my own work as an academic leader for more than 20 years and across different institutions both in the US and abroad,” Dr. Cenkl said. “Western’s commitment to its community and its lasting impact on the region, the state, and beyond is apparent.”

Dr. Cenkl will serve as Western’s chief academic officer, overseeing curriculum, faculty, and the student learning experience. He arrives from Prescott College in Arizona, where he served as Dean of Academic Affairs.

Continue reading the original announcement on the Western Colorado University website here.