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Photo of Stephani Etheridge Woodson facing front and smiling on a background with UNC's logo.

UNC Selects New Vice Provost for Enrollment Services and Dean of Undergraduate Studies

Stephani Etheridge Woodson brings commitment and experience to meeting the evolving needs of students.  

The University of Northern Colorado has selected Stephani Etheridge Woodson as the vice provost for Enrollment Services and dean of Undergraduate Studies. In her new role, which she begins on July 14, Etheridge Woodson will provide leadership in enrollment management, student academic support and undergraduate studies, as well as work collaboratively across the institution to enhance the student experience from recruitment through graduation. 

“We were fortunate to have a number of strong candidates interested in this position. Dr. Etheridge Woodson was chosen because of the broad support she received from multiple constituencies, her collaborative approach to leadership and her proven track record in student recruitment and retention and academic program development,” said Kirsten Fleming, UNC’s provost and executive vice president of Academic Affairs. 

“She brings with her knowledge and ability in leading the development of innovative academic offerings that meet the evolving needs of students and employers,” continued Fleming. “She also brings experience in working in an environment that encourages experimentation and taking risk to bring about positive change.” 

Etheridge Woodson comes to UNC most recently from Arizona State University's (ASU) Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, the largest comprehensive design and arts school in the nation. During her nine years with the institute, she held various roles, including director of the Design and Arts Corps, associate dean, and most recently as senior associate dean of Students and Academic Programs. 

In her current role Etheridge Woodson oversees a diverse portfolio serving over 8,800 students across six schools. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives that significantly improved student retention and success, including increases in both overall retention rates and retention rates for historically underrepresented students. Under her leadership, the institute experienced significant growth, expanded to multiple campus locations and diversified programming by offering online and hybrid programs to better serve working professionals and non-traditional students. 

Committed to understanding and prioritizing the evolving needs of students, Etheridge Woodson is an advocate for interdisciplinary curricular innovations, including flexible credentialing pathways, competency-based learning models and industry-aligned academic programming.  

“I’m honored to join the University of Northern Colorado,” said Ethridge Woodson. “UNC’s bold commitment to student success, equity and community engagement aligns deeply with my values. I’m excited to collaborate across campus to create seamless pathways from recruitment to graduation — centering student voices, strengthening academic programs and fostering a culture where all learners thrive.  

“As someone who grew up in a blue-collar family, I understand firsthand the transformative power of higher education, and I look forward to learning from the UNC community how best to serve.” 

Before her role current role at the Herberger Institute, Etheridge Woodson held various teaching roles at ASU, starting as an assistant professor in 2000, promoting to full professor in 2017 and serving from 2019 – 2024 as the Evelyn Smith Family Endowed Professor.  

Etheridge Woodson earned her Ph.D. in Theatre at Arizona State University, and her Master of Arts in Theatre and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. She is the co-editor of Theatre, Performance, and Change published with Palgrave McMillan, 2018, and the author of the 2015 Theatre for Youth Third-Space, Performance, Democracy and Community Cultural Development published with Intellect Press. Her current research focuses on the intersection of arts, public health and community well-being. 

According to Fleming, the vice provost for Enrollment Services and dean of Undergraduate Studies is a newly envisioned role replacing the current associate provost and assistant vice president for Undergraduate Studies role.  This re-envisioned role was part of a larger restructuring in Academic Affairs designed to better align the roles in the Provost’s Office to more effectively support students and employees. 

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