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CORVALLIS, Ore - Susie Brubaker-Cole, the associate provost for Academic Success and Engagement at Oregon State University since 2008, has been named OSU's vice provost for Student Affairs effective July 1.

She succeeds Larry Roper, the university's long-time vice provost who chose to return to a faculty teaching position at OSU after more than 18 years in his administrative leadership role.

"Larry Roper's leadership at Oregon State has been extraordinary and we are grateful that he is remaining at OSU," said Sabah Randhawa, the university's provost and executive vice president. "We also are fortunate that Susie Brubaker-Cole has a well-established track record of success as associate provost and will continue advancing student success and the goals of Student Affairs at OSU."

As associate provost, Brubaker-Cole works closely with Student Affairs, the university's academic units and the OSU Faculty Senate to guide and implement student success and engagement initiatives. Her most recent focus has been the development of OSU's First-Year Experience Initiative, which seeks to help students new to the university succeed academically and socially, ultimately improving retention.

As vice provost for Student Affairs, Brubaker-Cole will provide leadership for a range of student-related departments, programs and initiatives, including Career Services, the Memorial Union, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Services, Intercultural Student Services, Recreational Sports, Student Media, University Housing and Dining, Student Leadership and Involvement, Dean of Student Life Office, Disability Access Services, Student Conduct and Community Standards, New Student Programs and Family Outreach, and others.

Prior to coming to OSU, Brubaker-Cole worked for eight years at Stanford University as associate vice provost for undergraduate education, and concurrently for five years in Stanford's Student Affairs division as a live-in resident fellow.

She received her bachelor's degree in French and comparative history of ideas at the University of Washington, and has master's and doctoral degrees in French literature from Yale University. Brubaker-Cole also lived and studied for nearly five years in several regions of France.

A native Oregonian from Ashland, she began work at the age of 15 at the Oregon Shakespearean Festival selling programs, which she says sparked her interest in theater and cultural affairs. Now a resident of Corvallis, she is passionate about social justice, food security and environmental stewardship. A committed bicyclist, she commutes to work via bicycle and logs more than 3,500 miles annually, rain or shine.