The Office of the Provost works in coordination with the deans and other university leaders to support the University's strategic and operational plans. Specifically, the Office of the Provost provides university-wide leadership and oversight of Lindenwood’s academic portfolio, academic quality assurance, support for teaching, learning, and research, and academic support services.
Meet Our Staff
Dr. Bethany Alden-Rivers
Provost / Vice President, Academic Affairs
Dr. Mark Valenzuela
Associate Provost for Engaged Learning
Dr. Mark Valenzuela serves as Associate Provost for Engaged Learning and will support work to integrate experiential learning throughout the student experience, promoting access to internships, study abroad, and service learning. Prior to coming to Lindenwood in August 2021, Dr. Valenzuela served as Associate Professor of Civil Engineering and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Evansville, where he started in 1999. His academic area of specialization is in structural engineering, with a special focus on the intersections of science, society, and symbols. He has taught at Evansville’s study abroad center in the UK three semesters, led student groups to build houses with Habitat for Humanity in Central America, and mentored civil engineering student teams in the national concrete canoe competition. As Associate Vice President at Evansville, he provided leadership in the areas of assessment, accreditation, and institutional research and effectiveness. Valenzuela received the Bachelor of Engineering degree in civil and environmental engineering from Vanderbilt University and his MS and PhD degrees in structural engineering from Cornell University. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Indiana.
Kelly Moyich, JD
Associate Vice President, Student Affairs, Community Equity, and Inclusion
Dr. Christie Rodgers
Associate Vice President, Student Advising and Support Services
Dr. Kate Herrell
Assistant Provost, Academic Affairs
Dr. Kate Herrell serves as Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs,. Dr. Herrell provides leadership for Academic Services, Curriculum, Program Review, and Academic Policies. She began her career at Lindenwood in 2008 as a faculty member in the Department of Music. Prior to assuming the Assistant Provost role in 2021, Herrell served as the Associate Dean of the School of Arts, Media, and Communications. She has held other leadership positions including Director of Academic Assessment and Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs in the School of Arts, Media, and Communications. Herrell has an MBA from Maryville University. She has also earned an MA in Education and an EdD in Instructional Leadership from Lindenwood University.
Dr. Robyne Elder
Head, Academic Effectiveness
Dr. Robyne Elder is the Head of Academic Effectiveness, an Associate Professor in the Education Leadership Department, and Editor of the Journal of Educational Leadership in Action. She began editing dissertations and assisting EdD candidates in December of 2009 and began teaching a course, Writing for Research and Publication (EDR 58000), to help such candidates in Spring of 2014. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Mizzou, a master's degree in teaching, and an EdD in instructional leadership from Lindenwood University. Elder was a high school English instructor for 13 years and ELA department chair for five years. She began the role of director of general education assessment in 2020 before serving as Head of Academic Effectiveness starting in January of 2022. She was honored to receive the following awards during her career: Teacher of the Year, Educator of the Year for the Ft. Zumwalt School District, Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award, Lindenwood University Sue Spellmann Award, and Lindenwood University Assessment Champion Award.
Dr. Danielle McCall
Manager, Academic Operations
As Manager, Academic Operations, Dr. McCall oversees the financial planning and budget management for Academic Affairs. Furthermore, she assists with compliance and submissions for the states of Missouri and Illinois as well as the US Department of Education. Additionally, she is a part of a mentoring program for underrepresented students on the Lindenwood campus. McCall is an alumnus of Lindenwood University, earning her MBA in 2012. She earned her Doctor of Education with a concentration in Higher Education Leadership in 2019.
