After serving as Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs since 2013, Kathleen Pickering is stepping down from her administrative position to return to teaching and research. Pickering will be rejoining the Department of Anthropology where she served as department chair from 2009-2013, and has been on faculty since 1997.

In an email to the general faculty last week announcing her transition, Pickering said, “While I have enjoyed the opportunity to engage in University-level administration, I am at my core an educator and want to reengage with students and the community-based research process.”

Pickering said she plans to use the winter break to complete course prep and get ready to resume field research, but she looks forward to remaining engaged with key initiatives she has worked on as Vice Provost.

“Fortunately, as a faculty member, I will able to continue my work with student success, Principles of Community, diversity and global learning, program review, and many other initiatives I have been involved with from the Provost’s office,” she added.

Provost and Executive Vice President Rick Miranda said CSU has been extremely fortunate to have benefitted from Pickering’s energy, wisdom and experience as part of the leadership of academic affairs.

“I will personally miss her in the Provost’s office,” said Miranda. “Her passion for her work with students, with curriculum, and with community-based research and engagement has drawn her back to the faculty, but she will continue to be a strong contributor to our campus from that position as well, and we wish her all the best.”

The Provost’s office is considering options to fill the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs position and will make a campus-wide announcement once the process is finalized.