Francine Conway named as Provost, Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs for Rutgers—New Brunswick

Rutgers—New Brunswick Chancellor Christopher J. Molloy sent a University-wide email yesterday announcing the appointment of Francine Conway, current dean of the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP), as the new Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, effective Nov. 1. 

Conway will fill the vacancy left by Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Prabhas V. Moghe, who was approved for his current role by the Board of Governors on Oct. 7.

“The goal was to hire an academic who is highly respected and distinguished in academia, with higher educational administrative leadership experience, knowledge of both opportunities and challenges at New Brunswick and a deep commitment to integrating excellence and equity,” Molloy said, according to the email. “In (Conway), we have clearly found an academic leader who has the experience, expertise, empathy and proven results required to navigate the complex environment we now face.”

Molloy said Conway is a clinical psychologist and award-winning scholar who specializes in child psychopathology, according to the email. She has worked with children in hospital and private practice settings for more than 20 years and was distinguished for her psychodynamic treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to the GSAPP website. 

She took over as the dean of the GSAPP in 2016, where she oversaw doctoral psychology programs along with the Rutgers Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies, Douglass Developmental Disability Center, Center for Psychological Services, Center for Applied Psychology and the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services, according to the website.

While at the GSAPP, Conway focused on recruiting and retaining diverse faculty as well as enacting a diversity action plan for the entire school, according to the website. She also increased the number of academic programs offered within the school in order to increase the student body and collaborated with other schools within the University on a number of initiatives. 

Conway previously served as the president of the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology as well as the University’s Big Ten Liaison at the Academic Leadership Program and Department Executive Officer Program, according to the website. 

Molloy said he and Conway will work with members of the University community, including students, faculty, staff and other partners, as they develop new strategic goals for academic affairs. Conway will also be working closely with the deans in New Brunswick, according to the email.

“We have much work to do to realize our full potential as an academic powerhouse and beloved community, and I believe that (Conway) is the right partner to champion and lead the pursuit of these goals,” Molloy said, according to the email.