Academic Affairs

Academic Affairs Organizational Chart

mkrof2 — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 19:26:15 +0000

Academic Affairs Organizational Chart mkrof2 Fri, 06/20/2025 - 14:26

Link to the Provost's Office dynamic organizational chart where you will find the Provost's Leadership Team and their direct reports situated in the Provost's Office.

Invite the Provost

mkrof2 — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 13:43:44 +0000

Invite the Provost mkrof2 Wed, 06/11/2025 - 08:43

Thank you for your interest in inviting Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost Brandon E. Schwab to your event. The Provost's staff carefully reviews all event requests and fulfills them based on his availability.

Depending on the nature and timing of your request, we may recommend another Academic Affairs leader to attend and/or speak at your event if the Provost is not available.
As the Provost's calendar fills quickly, we suggest completing the Invite the Provost request form at least six weeks in advance of the event.
If the selection of the event date and time may be dependent upon the Provost's availability, please contact Monica Kroft to check on his availability before completing the request form.

Complete an Invite the Provost request form

Monica Kroft

mkrof2 — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 17:20:16 +0000

Monica Kroft mkrof2 Mon, 06/09/2025 - 12:20

Monica Kroft
Executive Advisor to the Provost

Email Monica Kroft

Areas of Responsibility

The Executive Advisor delivers confidential executive support to the VCAA/Provost and Provost's Leadership Team, oversees the Faculty Files Office and support staff team, and administers online faculty hiring processes.

Biography

Monica Kroft is the Executive Advisor to the Provost at the University of �山�� Springfield. In this role, she facilitates daily operations of the Office of the Provost, manages the support staff team, provides overall coordination of the Provost’s activities, and supports the Deans and Directors Council. Monica’s more than 15 years of experience at UIS began in the Office of Human Resources, where she served as Assistant to the HR Director and managed HR business processes before joining the Provost's Office in 2011. Monica is energized by collaborating with others to identify areas in need of improvement, bringing together subject matter experts to brainstorm and problem solve, and implementing/operationalizing new policies and procedures using a wide array of tools (FormBuilder is a favorite for process automation).

Monica earned an M.A. in Communication from UIS and appreciates the many opportunities for engagement and professional development available through the university.

last updated 2025-6-10

Lucía Vázquez

mkrof2 — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:24:56 +0000

Lucía Vázquez mkrof2 Mon, 06/09/2025 - 11:24

Lucía Vázquez
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation

Email Lucia Vazquez

Areas of Responsibility

The Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation oversees research administration, intellectual property, conflicts of commitment and interest arising from sponsored research, and innovation initiatives.

Mark Morten

mkrof2 — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:06:33 +0000

Mark Morten mkrof2 Mon, 06/09/2025 - 11:06

Mark Morten
Director of Academic Resources and Business Operations (DARBO)

Email Mark Morten

Areas of Responsibility

As fiscal officer for the Office of the Provost, the Director of Academic Resources and Business Operations (DARBO) oversees budget, contracts, purchase orders, provost's faculty awards funding, grant mentorship monitoring and payments, CFOP maintenance, and serves as My UI Financial report assigner.

Biography

Mark Morten is the Director of Academic Resources and Business Operations (DARBO) in the Office of the Provost at the University of �山�� Springfield. In this capacity, he is responsible for developing and managing the academic affairs budget, processing contracts and requisitions, and supporting operational planning across the division. He serves as a key member of the Provost Leadership Team, the Deans and Directors Council, and the Chancellor’s Administrative Council.

Mr. Morten brings over a decade of experience in fiscal management and higher education operations. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from DeVry University, an M.B.A. from the University of �山�� Springfield, and an M.Ed. in School Business Management from Northern �山�� University. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy at Northern �山�� University, with research focused on pupil transportation funding in �山�� and its implications for educational equity and policy development.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, Mr. Morten is actively engaged in community service. He serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Lincoln Memorial Garden and volunteers with several local organizations, including the Central �山�� Daylily Society, Springfield Civic Garden Club, Central �山�� Philippine American Society, and the Lincoln Land Beekeepers Association.

last updated 2025-6-10

Layne Morsch

mkrof2 — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:58:55 +0000

Layne Morsch mkrof2 Mon, 06/09/2025 - 10:58

Layne Morsch
Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs

Email Layne Morsch

Areas of Responsibility

The Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs oversees the units which comprise the Office of Online, Professional, and Engaged Learning (OPEL), including the Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE), the Center for Online Learning, Research and Service (COLRS), the Office of Engaged Learning (OEL), and the Office of Digital Accessibility (ODA).

Biography

Dr. Layne Morsch is the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs at the University of �山�� Springfield. In this role, he provides leadership for faculty development and academic innovation, overseeing the units that comprise Online, Professional, and Engaged Learning (OPEL). Dr. Morsch serves as a liaison between Academic Affairs and academic units, advancing initiatives in generative artificial intelligence, online learning, digital accessibility, micro-credentialing, and workforce-aligned education. He also leads efforts to engage “Some College, No Degree” learners and strengthen partnerships with regional employers.

With 25 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Morsch began his academic career as a faculty member in chemistry at Barat College and DePaul University before joining UIS in 2008. He was promoted to the rank of Professor in 2020. His research focuses on student learning in online collaborative environments, particularly in organic chemistry, and he has authored 15 publications and presented at numerous national and international conferences.

Dr. Morsch has received multiple honors for teaching excellence, including the College Excellence in Teaching Award, the Distinguished Online Teacher Award, and the Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching. He has also been recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator for his innovative use of technology in education. Dr. Morsch earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Minnesota State University Mankato and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of �山�� Chicago.

last updated 2025-6-10

Michael Roth

mkrof2 — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:52:24 +0000

Michael Roth mkrof2 Mon, 06/09/2025 - 10:52

Michael Roth
Associate Provost for Student Success and Undergraduate Education

Email Michael Roth

Areas of Responsibility

The Associate Provost for Student Success and Undergraduate Education supports Academic and Title III Initiatives, including Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP)/High Impact Practices (HIP) programming, the Capital Scholars Honors Program, and the Center for Academic Success and Advising.

Units

Capital Scholars Honors Program (CAP)

Center for Academic Success and Advising (CASA)

Undergraduate Education

Biography

Dr. Michael Roth serves as the Associate Provost for Student Success and Undergraduate Education at the University of �山�� Springfield. In this role, he provides leadership for initiatives that promote student persistence, retention, and academic achievement, while advancing excellence in undergraduate education. Dr. Roth brings a strong background in both teaching and administration, having spent over two decades as a professor of physics before transitioning into academic leadership roles, including department chair and dean. His academic interests lie in numerical modeling and simulation, and he remains research-active, with a new edition of his textbook scheduled for release in 2025.

A native of Fort Collins, Colorado, Dr. Roth has lived and worked in several states, including New Mexico, Texas, and Iowa, and now calls �山�� home. He spent the majority of the past 25 years in the Waterloo–Cedar Falls region of Iowa and values his deep roots in the Midwest. Dr. Roth is passionate about team building and student-centered leadership. His open-door policy reflects his commitment to accessibility and collaboration within the university community.

Dr. Roth earned his Ph.D. in Physics and brings a unique blend of academic, administrative, and industry experience—including time in software engineering—to his role at UIS. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys collecting antiques and restoring vintage vehicles, including pedal cars, AMC Ramblers, retro trailers, and 4-wheel drive trucks.

last updated 2025-6-10

Cecilia Cornell

mkrof2 — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:38:02 +0000

Cecilia Cornell mkrof2 Mon, 06/09/2025 - 10:38

Cecilia Cornell
Vice Provost and Director of Graduate Education

Email Cecilia Cornell
217-206-7230

Areas of Responsibility

In addition to Graduate Education, the Vice Provost's portfolio includes the Center for Lincoln Studies, Center for State Policy and Leadership, and the Sangamon Experience.

Biography

Dr. Cecilia Cornell is the Vice Provost and Director of Graduate Education at the University of �山�� Springfield, a position she has held since 2024. In this capacity, she provides strategic leadership for graduate education, working collaboratively with academic leadership and faculty to ensure excellence in graduate programs. She advises the Provost, deans, and faculty on graduate education policy, oversees curriculum development and program review, and serves as an ex-officio member of the Graduate Council. Dr. Cornell also leads the Graduate Recruitment Task Force and works across campus to support graduate student recruitment and retention. Her portfolio includes oversight of the Office of Graduate Education, the Graduate Assistantship Office, the Sangamon Experience, the Center for Lincoln Studies, the Center for State Policy and Leadership, and the Campus Senate Office.

Dr. Cornell has been affiliated with the Office of Graduate Education since 2011 and was appointed Associate Vice Chancellor for Graduate Education in 2013. She has played a key role in institutional accreditation efforts, including leadership in the university’s 10-year and 4-year reaccreditation processes.

A member of the UIS faculty since 1990, Dr. Cornell is a historian specializing in 20th-century U.S. foreign relations, with a focus on the early Cold War and periods of policy transition. She has taught a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses and was an inaugural faculty member in the Capital Scholars Honors Program.

Dr. Cornell earned her Ph.D. in History from Vanderbilt University and completed her undergraduate studies at Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon University).

last updated 2025-6-10

Expanding Access: �山��’ Groundbreaking Initiative for Student Success Webinar

hbruc3 — Thu, 08 May 2025 17:48:05 +0000

Expanding Access: �山��’ Groundbreaking Initiative for Student Success Webinar hbruc3 Thu, 05/08/2025 - 12:48

Resources like licensure test prep and skills training prepare students for career success. Yet they remain out of reach for many, particularly first-generation and low-income students.

How can institutions ensure every student has access to the tools they need to be career-ready?

�山�� has launched a groundbreaking program that provides students across the state with free access to these resources through a partnership with Kaplan. Join the initiative’s leaders in a webinar on Thursday, May 15, at 2 p.m. ET to explore how �山��’ model:

Mitigates financial burdens on students.
Improves workforce readiness.
Drives student outcomes.

Webinar Panelists

Dr. Jorge Villegas - Associate Dean of the College of Business and Management and Professor of Marketing, University of �山�� Springfield
Dr. Nayshon T. Mosley-Milford - Dean of Student Success, Chicago State University
David Sanders - President, Malcolm X College
Eric Zarnikow - Executive Director, �山�� Student Assistance Commission
Kim Canning - Vice President of University Partnerships, Kaplan
Brittany Wampler - Director of All Access License, Kaplan

When

Thu, May 15 2025, 1 - 2pm

Location

Virtual (via Zoom)

Event Type

Employee

Faculty

Student

Department

Academic Affairs

Expanding Access: �山��’ Groundbreaking Initiative for Student Success

hbruc3 — Thu, 08 May 2025 17:41:09 +0000

Expanding Access: �山��’ Groundbreaking Initiative for Student Success hbruc3 Thu, 05/08/2025 - 12:41

Academic Affairs

Academic Affairs Organizational Chart

Invite the Provost

Monica Kroft

Areas of Responsibility

Biography

Lucía Vázquez

Areas of Responsibility

Mark Morten

Areas of Responsibility

Biography

Layne Morsch

Areas of Responsibility

Biography

Michael Roth

Areas of Responsibility

Units

Biography

Cecilia Cornell

Areas of Responsibility

Biography

Expanding Access: �山����’ Groundbreaking Initiative for Student Success Webinar

Webinar Panelists

Expanding Access: �山����’ Groundbreaking Initiative for Student Success

Expanding Access: �山��’ Groundbreaking Initiative for Student Success Webinar

Expanding Access: �山��’ Groundbreaking Initiative for Student Success