Catherine M. Paden Named Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

“Dr. Paden is an accomplished academic professional with a strong record of success empowering faculty in their efforts to provide the impassioned instruction, guidance and attention that makes a difference in students’ lives,” said Dr. Mooney. “Her ability to foster an inclusive environment and her demonstrated proficiency in creating innovation aligns perfectly with our vision for the future of Franklin Pierce.”

Dr. Paden is a seasoned leader in academic administration with more than 15 years of experience.  Currently, she is the Deputy Provost at Simmons University in Boston, Mass. At Simmons, she led the implementation of the general education curriculum, the Simmons PLAN, which transformed the student experience. Dr. Paden revamped and redesigned Simmons’s undergraduate advising model and process, and she oversaw the creation and launch of the Center for Student Success -- a $3 million investment that has greatly improved undergraduate and graduate student access to academic services, including the Center for Global Engagement, Accessibility Services, Undergraduate Advising, Career Education, and the Writing and Tutoring Centers. 
As provost and vice president for academic affairs at Franklin Pierce University, Dr. Paden will lead strategic institutional initiatives for innovation in program development and teaching and learning. Her experience in designing and launching academic programs and building an implementing undergraduate and graduate curricula will enhance the University’s development of programs that resonate with the demands of the broader marketplace. She will provide oversight of student success initiatives, including retention efforts.  

“I was immediately drawn to Franklin Pierce University by the richness of its academic programs, the passion of its faculty, the impact it is making in important arenas like health care and its commitment to provide an inclusive environment that welcomes and celebrates all students,” said Paden. “I look forward to contributing to the exciting work to come and am thrilled to join Raven Nation.”

Dr. Paden, a tenured faculty member at Simmons, earned her doctoral degree in political science from Northwestern University and received her bachelor’s from Vassar College. Her interests focus on American politics and how underrepresented groups gain political representation. Her recent research includes, work to examine the impact of local civil rights efforts and economic justice on national public policy.