Following a national search, Pace University has announced the appointment of Alison Carr-Chellman, Ph.D., as its next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. She will begin her tenure on January 20, 2026.
A highly regarded higher education leader and scholar, Provost Carr-Chellman brings more than two decades of academic and administrative experience, with a focus on academic excellence, student success, shared governance and innovation in higher education.
She most recently served as dean of the School of Education and Health Sciences at the University of Dayton, where she has led strategic growth across multiple disciplines, stewarded a $29 million budget, substantially increased external research funding, and championed initiatives that advanced equity, inclusion, and student outcomes. Under her leadership, the school improved its national ranking and achieved 100 percent placement rates for undergraduates in teacher education and health sciences.
“Provost Carr-Chellman stood out in this search for her strength as a scholar, her clear and confident communication, and her ability to build strong relationships with faculty and academic leaders,” said Pace University President Marvin Krislov. “She brings a strategic vision shaped by a genuine commitment to student learning and institutional progress. We’re excited for the leadership she will bring as Pace continues to strengthen its academic reputation, expand scholarly productivity and support the success of our faculty, students, and programs.”
The appointment comes during an exciting time at Pace, which is undergoing a transformation of its campus at 1 Pace Plaza in Lower Manhattan, significant investments to its Cyber range and artificial intelligence labs and curriculum – along with the addition of degrees in artificial intelligence, two master’s and a bachelor’s of science – and planned upgrades to its Center for Healthcare Simulation in Pleasantville, among many other initiatives designed to prepare students for the modern workforce.
Prior to Dayton, Carr-Chellman served as dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences at the University of Idaho, and spent over two decades at Pennsylvania State University, where she held faculty and administrative roles, including department head and program chair, with a focus on instructional design, systems thinking and organizational change in higher education.
Provost Carr-Chellman, a widely published scholar who has authored seven books and more than 175 publications, has over 14,000 citations on Google Scholar, indicating high impact for her work. Her research centers on systems theory, instructional design, organizational transformation and learning technologies. She has also secured more than $8 million in external research funding as a principal or co-principal investigator.
“Pace has a unique mission rooted in access, excellence and opportunity, and that resonates deeply with me,” Provost Carr-Chellman said. “I’m excited to bring my experience in academic innovation, collaborative leadership and student-centered learning to a community so clearly dedicated to helping students excel and create lives they are proud of.”
She is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker, with presentations delivered in countries including China, Norway, Brazil, France, Japan, and Qatar. Her TED Talk, “Gaming to Re-engage Boys in Learning,” has been viewed more than 1.5 million times.
Throughout her career, Provost Carr-Chellman has been known for her collaborative leadership style, her focus on driving academic quality and her commitment to broadening access to high-impact learning. She has led major initiatives in program development, accreditation, experiential learning, online and hybrid education and community-engaged scholarship.
She also has extensive experience in strategic planning, budget management, cross-campus partnerships and leading complex academic organizations through periods of change. She earned her Ph.D. in instructional systems from Indiana University Bloomington and holds a Master of Science in instructional systems and a Bachelor of Science in education from Syracuse University.
As provost, she will serve as Pace University’s chief academic officer, overseeing academic strategy, faculty affairs, research development and major academic initiatives that advance the university’s academic excellence and student success across all campuses.
Since 1906, Pace University has been transforming the lives of its diverse students—academically, professionally, and socioeconomically. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace offers bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs to 13,600 students in its College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, Sands College of Performing Arts, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.
The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, in partnership with the North America Committee of the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations (CGA-NA), proudly hosted a special New York Arbitration Week program, titled “Greener Arbitration: Insights from the Next Generation of Legal Scholarship.”
The Pace University Federal Reserve Challenge team has been named the national winner of the 22nd Annual College Fed Challenge, the Federal Reserve recently announced.
Emotional intelligence and teamwork are non-negotiable skills for effective leadership and success, according to an executive who runs a global company focusing on marketing, communications, and creative services.