{"id":158056,"date":"2024-08-26T14:39:13","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T20:39:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=158056"},"modified":"2024-09-24T15:10:44","modified_gmt":"2024-09-24T21:10:44","slug":"meet-a-mountain-lion-interim-provost-lynn-vidler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=158056","title":{"rendered":"Meet a Mountain Lion: Interim Provost Lynn Vidler"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Lynn Vidler
Interim Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

On June 3, 2024, Lynn Vidler assumed the position of interim provost at UCCS, marking a new milestone in their journey of leadership development and growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vidler came to UCCS in July of 2020, during a time they call \u201chigh COVID,\u201d to become dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences (LAS).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was challenging, because everyone was remote,\u201d they explained. \u201cThe whole College was learning new ways of working remotely and communicating from our kitchen tables and basements. Together, we found ways to build relationships and trust. Working through trial and error was essential.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vidler came to UCCS from the University of South Dakota, where they served as Chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics for three years, followed by three years as an associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After receiving their Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine in Spanish Language and Literatures, Vidler began their academic career at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat was my first job out of graduate school\u2014I interviewed at West Point just three months after 9\/11,\u201d they explained. “It was the only job I wanted,\u201d they explained.  It felt like something I could do to serve my country in that moment.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

West Point\u2019s mission kindled Vidler\u2019s interest in leadership development. They took on their first academic leadership positions, including roles as the program director for the Spanish program and the associate dean for the International Intellectual Development Division. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a seminal developmental experience for me to be a faculty member in an environment where the purpose of the institution was to develop leaders for the nation,” Vidler explained.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI sought leadership positions with a developmental path,\u201d they continued. \u201cAt West Point, leadership positions were reserved for military faculty. So when the opportunity arose at the University of South Dakota, I continued my academic leadership journey there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As dean at UCCS, Vidler worked with faculty and academic departments to expand academic offerings and research. The college added two departments, eight degree programs, and numerous certificates and badges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m very proud of our efforts,\u201d said Vidler. \u201cWe\u2019ve also fostered an environment to inspire faculty and staff to be innovative and creative, helping meet the needs of today\u2019s students.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college has also initiated several programs to support publication costs, seed grants to kickstart research projects, and helped mentor junior faculty in grantsmanship.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDuring this time, we\u2019ve actually doubled the average annual college grants from one million to two million dollars,\u201d Vidler said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

LAS fundraising has also expanded during their tenure as dean. Vidler worked with the Advancement department on smaller crowdfunding campaigns as well as larger gifts, and the average annual giving has doubled in the last few years, with over $3 million raised for scholarships and other initiatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Vidler continues to emphasize the role of participative leadership. \u201cThe thing I am most proud of is the chance to collaborate on the creation of new programs in leadership development,\u201d they said. \u201cThat\u2019s something I\u2019ve been passionate about for a long time.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting with chair development programs and workshops in both South Dakota and in LAS, these initiatives are expanding through collaboration with the Human Resources department to develop a campuswide leadership development strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe were able to do a faculty cohort and a staff cohort of yearlong leadership development programs,\u201d Vidler explained. \u201cLeadership is now going to be an accreditation quality initiative for the campus, so for the next two years we\u2019ll be expanding our work in this area.\u201d 
 
\u201cFor me, it\u2019s so important that everyone on campus has leadership skills,\u201d they continued. \u201cLeadership isn\u2019t about a job title or being in a position of authority. It\u2019s a set of foundational skills that everyone can learn that helps improve self-awareness, interpersonal competence, teamwork, and the skills needed to lead change, all for the benefit of the university.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is Vidler\u2019s hope that this will be the beginning of a continuous initiative on campus so that all staff and faculty, and even students, will be able to gain leaderships skills to use here at UCCS and in their everyday lives as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Vidler, developing as many skills as possible is vital to organizational success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDifferent situations require different approaches,\u201d they said. \u201cIt really depends on what you\u2019re trying to do. Leadership is never something you\u2019re doing alone \u2013 the whole point of leadership is that you have to be working with other people to make progress on whatever challenge is in front of you. And everyone is coming from wherever they are. So you have to know yourself, be self-aware, and then you need to get to know where the other people are, their histories and conflicts and needs. So how you approach a situation could be completely different based on all of those factors.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vidler observes that all leaders must ensure that they are in alignment with the mission, vision and values of the organization and helping to serve and make things better \u2013 and they\u2019re always trying to learn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“A big part of starting the leadership development project on campus is about me learning and continuing to learn about leadership and reflecting on mistakes that I\u2019ve made and experiences that I\u2019ve had,\u201d they said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During their time as interim provost, Vidler hopes to build on the momentum that is already in place and be whatever the campus needs them to be in the role. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy to serve the campus however I\u2019m needed,\u201d they said. \u201cIn this role, it\u2019s not about my goals or my vision, but rather, what does campus need in this moment? What do the faculty, staff and students need in this moment?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a number of programs and policies that were pending when Vidler took on the role that they hope to get across the finish line, while also tackling any other issues that happen to come up during their time as interim provost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During their free time, Vidler loves to cook, run and practice photography. They\u2019ve found they have less time to cook since becoming a dean, but running and photography are the two things Vidler has \u201cinsisted on protecting.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Running was originally a COVID hobby for Vidler, but they have kept it up over the past three years. \u201cNobody wants to run with me, because I\u2019m too slow,\u201d they laughed. \u201cBut if you\u2019re a really slow runner, call me!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vidler gets to practice their other passion by participating in a weekly photography challenge.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve completed a five-year streak and am halfway through year six,\u201d they said. \u201cI love it because it helps you see the world through a specific lens that week.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n