University of Richmond names Jeffrey Legro as provost and vice president for academic affairs

*Editor's note: This release was updated July 18, 2017, to reflect a title change.

The University of Richmond has announced the appointment of Jeffrey W. Legro as the university’s next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, effective July 1. Legro is currently the Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Taylor Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia.

“Dr. Legro emerged as our finalist with an exceptional skill set for the position of provost. He is an accomplished scholar and academic leader who brings a wealth of relevant experience to the provost position,” said Ronald A Crutcher, president of the University of Richmond. “He has a deep understanding of the challenges confronting higher education, an appreciation for the vital role of the liberal arts, and high regard for the specific work we are undertaking at the University of Richmond.”

An expert on international affairs, Legro is the author of numerous books and articles, including “Rethinking the World: Great Power Strategies and International Order.” He co-edited “Shaper Nations: Strategies for a Changing World,” and “In Uncertain Times: American Foreign Policy after the Berlin Wall and 9/11.”

His articles on American foreign policy, international cooperation and conflict, China’s future in world politics, international norms and law, military doctrine and strategy, and the sources of foreign policy and national identity have appeared in numerous publications, including “Foreign Policy,” “The American Political Science Review,” “American Journal of Political Science” and “International Security.” 

He has researched and taught in China, Great Britain, Germany and Russia, and in 2011 was a Fulbright-Nehru Scholar in New Delhi.

He served as chair of the Politics Department and was a co-founder and faculty associate of the Governing America in a Global Era Program at U.Va.’s Miller Center. Legro chaired the American Political Science Association Task Force on U.S. Standing in the World and is past president of APSA’s International History and Politics section. He has also served as a consultant to governments and foundations.

As vice provost at U.Va., Legro led efforts to create a cross-school global studies major and a new global research center. In 2015, U.Va. received the Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization from the Association of International Educators.

Legro received his B.A. from Middlebury College and Ph.D. from UCLA.

“My conversations with President Crutcher and his leadership team, faculty, staff, students and alumni have illuminated the closeness, talent and ambition of the Spider community,” said Legro. “The University of Richmond is redefining what a liberal arts university can be in the 21st century. It has distinguished itself in its commitment to quality education and scholarship, access, diversity, and the robust development of students from all backgrounds, and high levels of engagement with the city and world. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve alongside Dr. Crutcher and I look forward to listening to and working with the entire community in building on a record of distinction in each school and across the university.”

“I am confident that under Dr. Legro’s leadership, our academic enterprise will prosper as we undertake a variety of new initiatives in the context of our emerging strategic plan,” Crutcher said.

The search for the provost was co-chaired by Michelle Hamm, professor of chemistry, and Dave Hale, vice president for business and finance. Committee members included Tina Cade, associate vice president for student development; Kate Cassada, assistant professor of education; Olivier Delers, associate professor of French; Stephanie Dupaul, vice president for enrollment management; Sylvia Gale, director, Bonner Center for Civic Engagement; Violet Ho, associate professor of management; Rick Mayes, professor of political science; Gary McDowell, Tyler Haynes Interdisciplinary Chair in Leadership Studies, Political Science and Law; Jack Preis, professor of law; Bob Rigsby, a 1971 graduate and trustee; and Jodie Thompson, a UR student who graduates May 7.

Crutcher also acknowledged the dedicated service of Sandra Peart, who has been interim provost since January 2017. “I want to recognize and express my deep appreciation to Sandra Peart who has served the University admirably during this important period of transition, providing skillful leadership as our interim provost while fully retaining and executing her responsibilities as Dean of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.”

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