By Armone’s Gates, Editor-in-Chief 

 The provost position at VSU is changing hands.  

Starting in January of 2027, Dr. Dana Nichols will be  the new Interim Provost of VSU’s academic affairs until July 2027, while VSU will be looking for a permanent person to fill the position. 

Dr. Nichols currently serves as the Vice President of Academic Affairs for Georgia Highlands College. 

 Current Provost Dr. Sheri Noviello explained Dr. Nichols’ transition from her current title to VSU. 

“Dr. Nichols will be interim provost, starting in January,” said Dr. Noviello. “I think she plans to come down early December to spend a little time with me in the office.” 

Dr. Noviello said Dr. Nichols has worked with current VSU president Dr. Don Green in the past. 

“She served as Don Green’s provost when he was at Georgia Highlands,” Dr. Noviello said. “So they have a previous working relationship, and she knows how he works and vice versa, so I think that’s a really good thing.” 

Dr. Nichols has served in her current role since 2018.  She supervises the deans in each academic area, including health sciences, STEM, humanities, social science and education, business and professional studies, libraries, and testing. 

Before that, she served as vice president for academic affairs at Chattanooga State Community College. She began her academic career at Gainesville State College, serving first as a tutor in the foreign language and writing labs and then as an associate professor of both English and Spanish. 

Dr. Nichols declined an interview at this time but said she would be speaking with Spectator in the future.

Dr. Noviello also discussed how the process has been so far with filling the  provost position.  

“Dr. Green will meet with the Deans Council, the council of department heads, Faculty Senate, and the cabinet to get ideas of what they’re looking for in a provost,” she said. 

Dr. Noviello continued to explain the process behind filling the provost position. 

“They will post the position for at least 30 days, but that also doesn’t count holidays so that’s why we won’t be done in January,” she said. “So, they are hoping to have somebody start by July 1 and if not, the fourth.” 

Dr. Noviello will be retiring on Jan. 1, 2027. 

Dr. Noviello first joined the VSU community in April of 2014, as she served as Associate Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Science. Then she served as interim dean starting July that year and was named the dean of the college in January of 2016. 

In 2023 she joined the Department of Academic Affairs as the interim provost.  

Throughout her time at VSU, Dr. Noviello has helped launched successful programs all around VSU’s campus. 

  During her time  serving within the college of Nursing and Health Science, she helped developed the new Masters of Science in Exercise Philology, and VSU for the first-time passed the rate for Bachelors of Science in Nursing students taking the National Council Licensure Exam. 

As interim provost, Dr. Noviello managed unpredictable moments, including severe weather disasters, cyber attacks, and the challenge of increasing enrollment within the undergraduate and graduate programs.  

Dr. Noviello explained why she made the decision to go into retirement. 

” This is my 36th year working in Georgia Systems and I think it’s just time,” said Dr. Noviello. “I’ve enjoyed my time here and it’s been a great experience.”