LABRECQUE NAMED PROVOST AT UHV

Dr. Suzanne LaBrecque, currently vice provost and associate vice president for academic affairs at the University of North Texas, is set to become provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Houston-Victoria.

After receiving recommendations from a search committee that reviewed the credentials of more than 30 qualified applicants and conducting campus interviews, UHV President Tim Hudson selected LaBrecque to become the university’s next chief academic officer.

At UNT, LaBrecque assists the vice president of academic affairs in working with the president, other vice presidents, deans and faculty. The flagship of the University of North Texas System, UNT is a student-centered public research university in the Dallas-Fort Worth region with more than 11 schools and colleges that serve over 32,000 students.

LaBrecque received a bachelor’s in child development and home economics education from South Dakota State University; a master’s in family and child development from Kansas State University; and a doctorate in family and child development from Florida State University. After teaching at UNT for almost 10 years, she served as dean of UNT’s School of Home Economics, School of Human Resource Management, and School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management.

“Dr. LaBrecque is an accomplished, experienced academic administrator,” said Hudson. “She comes to us highly recommended by her colleagues in similar positions at universities throughout Texas.”

At UNT, she established the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management Grants Office, whose staff secured over $1 million in external funding in 10 years. Additionally, she has worked with faculty to redesign and revitalize academic programs to increase enrollment and better prepare graduates for professional careers.

“Dr. LaBrecque’s enthusiasm, her passion for helping students achieve their goals, her understanding of the importance of the faculty to the academy and her commitment to supporting faculty will be great assets to her as provost,” added Hudson.

LaBrecque will replace Dr. Don Smith, who retired at the end of May after having served as provost and vice president of academic affairs since 1995.

“I’m honored to be joining UHV at such a dynamic time in its history when its reputation is clearly on the rise,” said LaBrecque. “I look forward to working with President Hudson and the entire UHV community as we carry out our mission of providing access to quality higher education in our part of Texas and beyond.”

The provost is the president’s primary adviser in matters relating to the planning and development of academic programs. The provost also oversees the work of the deans, sits on the president’s cabinet and the university budget committee, and represents UHV on the UH System Council of Provosts.

Candidates for the position were selected by a search committee composed of UHV administrators, faculty, staff and students. The committee was co-chaired by Dr. Sandy Venneman, chair of the Faculty Council and associate professor of psychology and biology, and Dr. John Stansell, dean of the UHV School of Education and Human Development.

“The committee members were pleased to recommend Dr. LaBrecque for the position of provost,” said Venneman. “It was clear to all of us that she would be a supporter of faculty concerns, a leader in developing new academic programs, and a key player in carrying out UHV’s mission.”