Trinity Announces Appointment of Interim Provost

With the recent appointment of Dr. Elizabeth Rudenga, Trinity’s provost, as Interim President, the College announces the appointment of an Interim Provost, both effective June 1.

Dr. Sharon Robbert, dean for academic planning and effectiveness and professor of mathematics, will serve in the role of Trinity’s chief academic officer as Rudenga steps into her new role.

Rudenga’s appointment was announced soon after the news that President Steve Timmermans, Ph.D., had been nominated by the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) as its next executive director, pending final approval at the CRCNA’s annual Synod gathering in June.

As Interim Provost, Robbert will also serve as dean of the faculty and be responsible for the scope and quality of instruction to offer the best environment for educating students. The provost works with committees of the Board of Trustees and the faculty and supervises the academic deans in addition to a variety of other responsibilities.

Robbert has been on faculty at Trinity since 1993. She has worked collaboratively in a variety of contexts—research with students and colleagues; initiatives such as the Eureka Learning Community to promote collaborative student learning in STEM disciplines; and outreach to constituents through annual events like the Mathematics Triathlon.

Last year, Robbert was recognized with the Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics (Illinois Section of the Mathematical Association of America [MAA]). The award recognizes teachers of mathematics who have been extraordinarily successful at the post-secondary level. She was recently appointed as section governor, April 2014 through August 2016.

In 2010, she led the process for the College’s reaccreditation by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in 2010. Both Robbert and Rudenga serve as peer reviewers for the HLC.

Robbert earned her B.A. from Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and her M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago.