Sept. 25, 2020

Leadership Announcement

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Dear VCU Community,

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Gail Hackett has informed me of her plan to retire at the end of the academic year, June 30, 2021.

Provost Hackett will have served more than six years at VCU at the time of her retirement with many notable and important mission centered accomplishments including the diversification of the Provost’s Office and initiatives to focus on the success of all of our students. Gail has brought excellent talent to the university.  This has resulted in significant gains in graduation rates and academic quality that rank nationally and have narrowed the graduation gap among our diverse student body. 

We will conduct a national search for her replacement, with the goal to have a new provost in place for the 2021-2022 academic year. Details on this executive recruitment will be forthcoming.

I am very grateful to Gail for all that she has done for VCU and our people.  She has been a great partner in an important mission. We will appropriately recognize Dr. Hackett and celebrate her outstanding service to VCU later in the academic year. 

Sincerely,

Michael Rao, Ph.D.
President, VCU and VCU Health System