New Assistant Provost for Graduate Studies and Research

The University of Hartford is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jessica Nicklin as assistant provost for graduate studies and research. She will be on campus beginning Aug. 23.

"I am really excited for the opportunity to apply my academic and student affairs experience to the graduate student population, a growing and critically important subset of our community. I look forward to working with the graduate students, faculty, and leadership in support of our mission of learning, personal growth, knowledge creation, and the betterment of society," Nicklin said.

Nicklin is a tenured associate professor of psychology, originally joining the University in 2009. She was the inaugural director of the online master’s program in organizational psychology, growing the program to over 100 students in just three years, and served as an associate dean for student academic services in the College of Arts and Sciences, overseeing academic advising, orientation, and career readiness initiatives.

She was also the inaugural associate vice president for student success, overseeing the Center for Student Success, first-year orientation, counseling and psychological services, centralized tutoring, access-ability services, Title IX, and student health and wellness. A graduate of the University at Albany with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Business and Education, as well as a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Nicklin's research expertise is in work-family balance, workplace motivation, and positive psychology.

Nicklin has been on leave from the University for a few months while serving as the director of talent management and development for Hartford Healthcare. UHart is thrilled to have her back. 

In her new role as assistant provost for graduate studies and research, Nicklin will oversee strategic planning, program review, and assessment of graduate programs; new graduate program and curricular development; retention and support of graduate students; as well as academic policies as they relate to graduate education. Her responsibilities will also include fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion among graduate students, programs, and faculty; and cultivating a climate of support for internally and externally funded research.

She will report to the provost, and work closely with RJ McGivney, associate vice president for graduate and professional studies on graduate student retention and support services. Nicklin will also lead the Graduate Council, be a voice for graduate education on the provost’s staff and in the Council of Deans, and oversee the Institutional Review Board and Animal Care and Use Committee.

Please join me in welcoming Jess Nicklin back to the University of Hartford and congratulating her on this new appointment.