Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues,
As UAH's graduate and research profile continues to grow, we are taking this opportunity — as Jon Hakkila steps down as Associate Provost for International Services and Academic Integrity, and Dean of the Graduate School — to align each of these important functions with dedicated, focused leadership.
What Is Changing
- International Services and Study Abroad will move to the office of Enrollment Management, joining the university's broader recruitment, compliance, and student-experience functions.
- Administration of Academic Integrity will move to the Dean of Students office – while maintaining partnership with Academic Affairs – providing appropriate independence from any single academic unit.
- The Graduate School will become a standalone, dean-led unit reporting directly to the Provost — reflecting the importance of graduate education to UAH's research mission.
These changes will take effect September 1, 2026. Current students, faculty, and staff should expect no interruption in service during the transition; specific continuity details for each area are noted below.
Continuity During the Transition
- International Services: all advising, SEVIS compliance, and Study Abroad support continue without interruption throughout the transition.
- Academic Integrity: all open cases continue under their current timelines and personnel; no case will be reassigned mid-process as a result of this change.
- Graduate School: student onboarding, records processing, course and program reviews, policy and operational improvements, etc. continue without pause under interim leadership.
Interim Leadership of the Graduate School
With the Graduate School becoming a standalone unit, we need an interim dean in place by September 1, 2026, to provide continuity while a national search for a permanent Dean of the Graduate School is conducted. Given this timeline, we are opening an internal call for applications and nominations effective immediately.
Qualified UAH faculty interested in serving as Interim Dean of the Graduate School, or wishing to nominate a colleague, should submit a brief letter of interest and current curriculum vitae (or a nomination) to provost@uah.edu by August 3, 2026. Applicants can review full details on the role, term, and qualifications here. We anticipate announcing the interim appointment by August 17, 2026.
A national search for the permanent Dean of the Graduate School will follow, with details on the search committee and timeline to be shared after the interim appointment is in place.
This transition reflects an institution that continues to mature, and a deliberate choice to give each of these functions the dedicated leadership they demand. Thank you for your support as we work through it.
Go Chargers!
Dave Puleo
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs