UND Interim Provost Debbie Storrs accepts position at University of North Carolina Greensboro

Debbie Storrs, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of North Dakota, has accepted the position of provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG).

“During Debbie’s career at UND, she truly embodied the University’s commitment to caring about students, both inside and outside the classroom,” said UND President Andy Armacost. “This was most obvious and most appreciated during the COVID pandemic when she led efforts to quickly transition to online and hybrid learning, while making certain that students had the help and the resources they needed to continue their education. She is a dedicated educator and administrator who will serve UNCG’s students and faculty well, and Kathy and I wish Debbie continued joy and the best of luck in her new position.”

Storrs will begin her new position on June 30.

“I have been honored to work alongside committed deans, staff and faculty at UND to support student success,” said Storrs. “I’m excited to join UNCG, given their intentional dedication to successfully close the student equity gap and their strong commitment to the teacher-scholar model.”

Storrs was named Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at UND on June 1, 2020, upon the retirement of Tom DiLorenzo. Following a national search, the UND provost position will be filled on July 1 by Eric Link, currently the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at the University of Houston Downtown.

Storrs joined UND in 2013 when she was named Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, UND’s largest college. As dean, Storrs developed internal research and creative grant opportunities for faculty, supported high-impact practices for students, and re-engaged the College’s external advisory group to help raise visibility and fiscal support for the liberal arts.

Storrs was named Senior Vice Provost in the Division for Academic Affairs in September 2017. It was a half-time role, at first, while she maintained her position as Dean of the UND College of Arts & Sciences. In 2018, Storrs was named full-time Senior Vice Provost. Among many duties, Storrs served as captain for Goal 1 of the One UND Strategic Plan, ensuring every student has a strong liberal arts foundation.

As Senior Vice Provost, Storrs also led, mentored and worked with vibrant teams in Student Academic Success & Career Engagement, Essential Studies, the Honors Program, Reserve Officer Training Corps, the International Center, Strategic Enrollment Management, the Registrar’s Office, Assessment and Accreditation, Academic Fellowships/Scholarships, and the Teaching Transformation & Development Academy. She also led and mentored teams to ensure successful recruitment and retention efforts, and she facilitated collaboration with other North Dakota University System institutions.

Storrs came to UND from the University of Idaho, where she served from 1997 to 2013, including five years as Associate Dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Social Science. At Idaho, she began as an assistant professor of sociology, moving through the ranks to full professor. In addition to her leadership experience as Associate Dean, she served as Interim Chair of the Department of Modern Languages & Cultures, and as Co-President of Athena, a faculty-staff association dedicated to gender equity.

Storrs earned doctoral and master’s degrees in sociology at the University of Oregon, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Her research portfolio includes scholarship in teaching and learning, community action in health and STEM education, qualitative methods and narratives, and racial/gendered identities.

About the University of North Carolina Greensboro:

UNCG  is 1 of only 57 doctoral institutions recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for both higher research activity and community engagement. Founded in 1891 and one of the original three UNC System institutions, UNC Greensboro is one of the most diverse universities in the state with 20,000+ students, and 3,000+ faculty and staff members representing 90+ nationalities. With 17 Division I athletic teams, 85 undergraduate degrees in over 125 areas of study, as well as 74 master’s and 32 doctoral programs, UNC Greensboro is consistently recognized nationally among the top universities for academic excellence and value, with noted strengths in health and wellness, visual and performing arts, nursing, education, and more.

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