Steven Dandaneau, Kansas State University’s vice provost for undergraduate studies, has been named the next executive director of the Reinvention Collaborative, a national consortium of research universities dedicated to advancing undergraduate education, housed at Colorado State University. He will also become an associate provost at CSU, succeeding Alan Lamborn, who is retiring from both positions after 35 years with the University and 5 years at the helm of the Reinvention Collaborative.
“We are ecstatic about attracting such an accomplished, experienced, and dedicated scholar and administrator to our campus, and to this shared position,” said Rick Miranda, provost and executive vice president of CSU. “We look forward to working closely with him on a number of CSU initiatives in undergraduate education, as well as continuing our strong relationship with the Reinvention Collaborative, in the coming years.”
At Kansas State, Dandaneau oversaw general undergraduate education, academic advising, retention, and student success programs, as well as programs for first-generation students, undergraduate research, national competitive scholarships, and the honors program. During his tenure, K-State increased its freshman-to-sophomore retention rate, improved academic advising, and developed more services for the success of first-generation students.
“Alan Lamborn has guided our Student Success Initiative for over a decade now, as part of a leadership team, and we’ve seen CSU improve to record levels of student achievement,” Miranda said. “There is no better way to honor Alan’s contributions than to strengthen the team and redouble our efforts related to undergraduate education in the coming period.”
Undergraduate learning experiences
As the principal administrative officer of the Reinvention Collaborative, Dandaneau will work with the 65 member research universities across the nation on initiatives that articulate and implement student-centered undergraduate learning experiences. The Collaborative, founded in 2000, has been housed at CSU since 2013.
“We are grateful for the continued partnership this appointment reaffirms between CSU and the Reinvention Collaborative,” said Amy Burkert, current president and chair of the board of the Collaborative. “Steve Dandaneau has been an active participant and engaged leader in the Collaborative for many years. We are delighted Steve will be taking on this important role and are looking forward to working with him to build on the strong foundation established by Alan and all of the previous and current members and leaders of the Collaborative.”
Lamborn will step down from the executive director position on June 30. Dandaneau will begin his new position on July 1.
“Both the Reinvention Collaborative and CSU are highly regarded nationally for cultivating innovation and excellence in undergraduate education,” Dandaneau said. “I am delighted to have this opportunity to help strengthen undergraduate education at U.S. research universities, and to help CSU continue to foster innovation and excellence on campus.”
Dandaneau has also served as associate provost and director of honors programs at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and University of Dayton; done research at the University of Maryland, College Park; and taught sociology at University of Dayton; University of Michigan-Flint; C.S. Mott Community College in Flint; and Framingham State University in Massachusetts.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics, with honors, from Michigan State University, and his master’s and Ph.D. in sociology from Brandeis University.
