WORCESTER— After a comprehensive and competitive nationwide search, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) President Grace J. Wang, Ph.D., has appointed Andrew Sears, Ph.D., as the university’s new provost and senior vice president. A successful academic leader, administrator, and distinguished computer scientist, Sears brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education to WPI.
“Dr. Andrew Sears is an accomplished educator, researcher, and leader who has earned a reputation as a true collaborator, innovator, and motivator,” said President Wang in a statement. “He is known for his deep commitment to supporting faculty, staff, and students, as well as for his ability to focus on vision, mission, and priorities. I am excited to welcome Andrew to the WPI community. His knowledge, experience, and leadership will help WPI further advance our transformative STEM education and raise the stature and impact of our academic enterprise.”
Sears serves as WPI’s chief academic officer, charged with championing excellence across the university’s academic enterprise, overseeing all aspects of academic affairs, and managing the associated curricular, human, financial, and physical resources. Additionally, he will lead efforts to recruit and support educators, scholars, and staff, and promote a positive, inclusive, and immersive academic experience for all students.
“I’m a first-generation student whose life was transformed by higher education,” says Sears in an announcement. “When I was in high school, a mentor introduced me to WPI because this university values both knowledge and the importance of putting it into action to help people and the world. My career in academia now spans three decades, and my respect for WPI has only grown over the years.
“Through project-based learning, WPI provides a transformative education and outstanding research opportunities. This purpose-driven, high-impact approach is unparalleled in higher education; it truly prepares students to be able to do well for themselves and their families, and it enables them to do good in the world. That resonates with me personally, and I am excited to join President Wang, her leadership team, and the faculty and staff to help move the institution forward by building upon its considerable strengths.”
Sears currently serves as professor and dean of the School of Information Studies (iSchool) at Syracuse University, where he has fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, developed new academic programs, and led university-wide AI discussions. Before Syracuse, he was professor and Dean of the College of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State University, enhancing student experiences, increasing research support, and expanding facilities. At Rochester Institute of Technology, he focused on academic and student success, building research programs, and strengthening global partnerships.
Sears began his academic career at DePaul University and later joined the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He has held various academic and research roles, including positions at the US Department of Veterans Affairs and the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine. Sears earned his B.S. in computer science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Maryland-College Park. His research, supported by agencies like IBM and the National Science Foundation, focuses on human-computer interaction, mobile computing, and health information technologies.
Send news releases to Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
