As part of its commitment to providing transformative educational experiences, Loyola Marymount University will expand its innovative and rigorous teaching and learning approaches through new modalities, while upholding its commitment to the university’s mission and to academic excellence.
Effective immediately, Kathleen Weaver, Ph.D., assumes the position of associate provost for Research, Professional Development, and Online Learning. Reporting directly to the executive vice president and provost, Weaver will continue her work orienting new faculty; assisting students, faculty, and staff with research and professional development opportunities; and overseeing the rank and tenure process. She will also leverage opportunities for online delivery of an LMU education. Areas in this regard are wide-ranging within the university’s diverse catalog of graduate and undergraduate programs, and will be critical to the success of LMU’s graduate endeavors, continuing education, and our ability to retain students.
“Over the past year, Dr. Weaver has worked with faculty and staff as part of a Technology Engaged Learning Task Force to gauge where LMU is and aspires to go in the realm of online and hybrid teaching and learning, as well as what it would take in terms of policies, resources, and infrastructure to strategically move forward toward this destination,” said Thomas Poon, LMU’s executive vice president and provost. He adds, “Kat is ideally suited to support the university in realizing its potential for online learning.”
Patrick Frontiera, vice president for Information Technology and Business Services, remarked “LMU’s faculty have increasingly sought leadership, guidance, and support as they consider infusing their pedagogies with fully online strategies. Kat has been an excellent strategic partner with ITS in envisioning how LMU might best support faculty and academic programs’ integration of these strategies. ITS generally and the Research and Educational Technology Services team specifically, look forward to our continued partnership to support online learning.”
Weaver earned her Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her research on land snails and freshwater fish has been published in a variety of journal articles and technical reports. She also publishes and presents frequently about STEM education, with a focus on gender equity. Weaver came to LMU in 2018 from the University of La Verne, where she served on the faculty for 12 years, most recently as professor of biology and as associate dean of learning, innovation, and teaching. As associate dean, her work centered on faculty development, student support, and implementation of the La Verne Experience, a signature program that integrates high-impact practices across the curriculum, including online courses for adult students. Weaver’s textbook, “An Introduction to Statistical Analysis in Research,” utilizes an electronic format that supports hybrid learning. Weaver’s grant and fundraising accomplishments include $19.7 million to fund her own research as well as institutional support for faculty innovation and curriculum reform.
