LR hires assistant provost for undergraduate education

Lenoir-Rhyne has hired Jeni Wyatt, Ed.D., as the inaugural assistant provost for undergraduate education. In this role, Wyatt will oversee initiatives that support and enhance the undergraduate experience.

She will work with faculty and deans to create, enhance, and develop modern undergraduate curriculum; develop and implement academic policies and procedures related to undergraduate education; and serve as the liaison between Academic Affairs and the Division of Mission, Engagement and Innovation on undergraduate admissions, transfer services and innovative undergraduate programming. In addition, the Registrar's Office will now report to Wyatt, who has extensive experience student records and degree audits.

Wyatt will begin her role Monday, Sept. 26, and will report to Jennifer Burris, Ph.D., provost and vice president of academic affairs.

“I am thrilled that Dr. Wyatt will join LR as the new assistant provost of undergraduate education,” said Burris. “Her experience, enthusiasm and dedication to student success will help to further the strategic plan, and I look forward to partnering with her to advance Lenoir-Rhyne University.”

Wyatt comes to LR from Appalachian State University, where she was the senior director of transfer admissions and engagement and led the team responsible for recruitment, admissions, retention, and engagement of transfer students. Her office at ASU also handled all transfer credit articulation and articulation agreements for the university, and she oversaw collaboration with North Carolina community colleges.

“I’m excited to join the Lenoir-Rhyne community and look forward to collaborating with staff and faculty to support the goal of providing a transformational experience to support student success,” Wyatt said. 

At Appalachian, she also served as the director of the College of Arts and Sciences Advising and Support Services Hub for 17 years, overseeing advising, managing student records, and reviewing all curriculum changes for the largest college at Appalachian with nearly 6,000 students. Wyatt served on many university groups, including the Enrollment Planning Council, the General Education Task Force and the DegreeWorks degree audit implementation team. Prior to her work at Appalachian, Wyatt served as the dean of academic affairs at South College in Asheville, North Carolina.  

Wyatt earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and her master’s degree in community counseling from Western Carolina University. She received a doctorate in adult and community college education from North Carolina State University.