Gigantino, Zajicek Named Vice Provosts for Academic Affairs, Faculty Affairs

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Left: Jim Gigantino, vice provost for academic affairs, and Anna Zajicek, vice provost for faculty affairs

Provost Terry Martin named Jim Gigantino as vice provost for academic affairs and Anna Zajicek as vice provost for faculty affairs effective Feb. 1. Gigantino and Zajicek have served as interim vice provosts since Summer 2022.

"Jim and Anna have been instrumental in advancing the university's goals forward not only in their roles as interim vice provosts, but also as well-respected faculty members and scholars," Martin said. "They are both excellent leaders and committed to serving our faculty, staff, students and community. I'm happy for them to continue in their roles."

As vice provost for academic affairs, Gigantino oversees academic programs, institutional accreditation, academic policies and services for the university and works with units throughout campus to ensure academic excellence. As vice provost for faculty affairs, Zajicek advances the recruitment, retention, evaluation, recognition, and professional and leadership development of university faculty in partnership with colleges, schools, departments and other administrative units. She also supports the Teaching and Faculty Support Center.

"I'm privileged to serve the University of Arkansas as vice provost for academic affairs," Gigantino said. "I look forward  to working collaboratively with my colleagues across campus to ensure our academic programs continue to thrive and support our faculty, staff and students while advancing the mission of the university."

"I'm honored and thrilled to serve as vice provost for faculty affairs," Zajicek said. "Collaborating with our amazing faculty and departmental leaders to foster ongoing professional development and investing in faculty success is vital to our mission and goals as an institution. As vice provost, I am committed to supporting and recognizing the excellence of our faculty by fostering an educational community where all faculty thrive, succeed and belong. "

About Jim Gigantino

Prior to being appointed as interim vice provost for academic affairs, Gigantino served as associate dean of the Graduate School and International Education. He has been a faculty member in the Department of History since 2010. 

As a faculty member, Gigantino has served in several leadership roles within the Department of History and received several awards for outstanding teaching and mentoring. He was promoted to professor of history in 2019 and has served as department chair, associate chair and director of graduate studies. He has also held leadership positions involving faculty governance throughout campus, including the Graduate Council and Faculty Senate, as well as serving as a peer reviewer with the Higher Learning Commission.

Gigantino, an early American historian whose work focuses on the history of slavery and the role of government in the American Revolution, received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Richmond and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Georgia. He is the author of two books and two edited collections, most recently William Livingston's American Revolution in 2018. 

About Anna Zajicek

Prior to being appointed as interim vice provost for faculty affairs, Zajicek was associate dean in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. She has been a faculty member in the Department of Sociology and Criminology for more than 25 years.

As a faculty member, Zajicek has led and served on numerous committees, including key faculty governance committees, and was selected as an inaugural fellow of the SEC Academic Leadership Development Program. She has been recognized by other faculty and students for her leadership and mentorship. She has served as professor, department chair and department vice chair within the Department of Sociology and Criminology. She has also served as director for the graduate program in sociology, faculty research associate in the Office for Institutional Diversity and Education, and senior fellow for inclusion in the Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  

In addition to her role as vice provost, Zajicek currently serves as the social justice specialization coordinator in the public policy graduate program.

Zajicek earned her B.S. and M.S. in sociology at the University of Silesia, Poland, and her Ph.D. in sociology at Virginia Polytechnic and State University. Her research interests include social inequality (specifically, the intersectionality of gender, race, class and age), gender/race and STEM disciplines, institutional transformation, social policy and discourse. She has published 45 refereed publications, two books and eight book chapters.

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