Ann Schmiesing named interim vice chancellor for strategic initiatives
Ann Schmiesing named interim vice chancellor for strategic initiatives
Published:2/24/2025 2/24/2025
Chancellor Justin Schwartz has appointed Ann Schmiesing interim vice chancellor for strategic initiatives, effective March 1.
[Ann Schmiesing]
The newly created position is a campuswide resource, combining strategic oversight with high-level support to the chancellor, serving as a key advisor and liaison across CU Boulder’s executive team. The interim vice chancellor for strategic initiatives will work across internal and external constituencies to advance campus goals and ensure ongoing and consistent success.
“I am delighted Ann has accepted this appointment to serve as our interim vice chancellor for strategic initiatives, working closely with me and other campus leaders on priority projects that will shape the direction of CU Boulder,” Schwartz said. “Ann brings long experience—as a talented academic and an able, highly respected administrative leader on this campus and at CU Denver—to this important new role.”
Schmiesing recently returned to the CU Boulder campus after serving as the interim chancellor at CU Denver last fall.
“I’m excited and honored to serve as interim vice chancellor for strategic initiatives,” Schmiesing said. “I look forward to working collaboratively with our faculty, staff, students, shared governance organizations and external partners to advance CU Boulder’s mission and impact.”
Schmiesing is currently the vice chancellor for academic resource management in the provost’s office—leading academic resource strategy and analysis in support of the university’s research and teaching missions. She coordinates strategic initiatives with the various directorates in the division of Strategic Resources and Support. She also oversees the Graduate School, Continuing Education, CU Boulder Online and research infrastructure.
Before assuming her current administrative role in the provost’s office, Schmiesing served as chair of the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures (2007–11), director of the Sewall Residential Academic Program (2015–16) and dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate affairs (2016–18).
She received the Excellence in Leadership and Service Award from the Boulder Faculty Assembly in 2016. She joined the CU Boulder faculty in 1995 and is a professor of German and Scandinavian studies.
“Ann is an exceptionally skilled leader and administrator, and it’s no surprise that the chancellor would tap her for this important new campus position,” Provost Russell Moore said. “Ann’s absence will leave a significant void in the Office of the Provost, but I am delighted for her and supportive of this move.”
Moore said he will announce a search process for an interim successor to Schmiesing soon.