Philip N. Gilbertson

Philip N. Gilbertson has served as Provost of the University of the Pacific since 1996. The Provost serves as the University’s chief academic officer and has overall responsibility for the institution’s educational and research programs, library services, information technology, enrollment and financial aid, and continuing education. He oversees nine colleges on three campuses, 120 academic programs, 675 faculty, 6250 students, and a $115 million budget.

The Provost chairs the Council of Deans and the Institutional Priorities Committee, the latter serving as the University’s key advisory group for strategic planning and resource allocation. Provost Gilbertson has overseen the development of a new mission and vision statement for the University, a University planning process, and the implementation of initiatives based on planning priorities leading to distinctive academic programs. He has strengthened academic leadership in nearly all units. He has overseen the development and implementation of a program review process for both academic and non-academic programs; an increase in school collaborations; an increase in enrollment and student selectivity; development of offices of Planning and Research, Sponsored Programs and Assessment; a maturing information technology system; an experiential learning guarantee for all undergraduates; a diversity plan for faculty and students; expansion of community partnerships; and a process to assess the need for renovation and new construction of academic facilities.

Recently Provost Gilbertson has lead initiatives to increase the international engagement of Pacific in China, East Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, and to promote innovation in the university through creative partnerships outside of higher education.

Provost Gilbertson received his bachelor’s degree in Comparative Literature from Augustana College (SD) in 1965, followed by the Ph.D. in English from the University of Kentucky in 1971. He completed postdoctoral studies at Indiana University and Carnegie Mellon University. Provost Gilbertson has spoken and published on topics ranging from higher education and international studies to literary criticism and poetry. At five institutions he has secured approximately $11 million of funding for 32 projects from national and regional foundations and federal and state agencies.

He began his career teaching English at the University of Idaho (1969-73), followed by teaching and department chair positions at Wartburg College (Iowa, 1973-79) and Texas Lutheran College (1979-1986), where he served as Chair of the Humanities Division, founding Director of the International Studies Program and founding Director of the Mid-Texas Association of International Education. In 1986 he was appointed Vice President for Academic Affairs, Academic Dean and Professor of English at Doane College (NE), where he served until 1989. He served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of English at Valparaiso University (IN) from 1989 to 1996.