University of La Verne Names Dr. Jonathan Reed New Provost

A nationwide search for a permanent Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs for the University of La Verne resulted in the selection of Dr. Jonathan Reed, who has served as interim provost at La Verne since January.

The search began in the spring of 2013 by an independent national search consultant, who narrowed down the candidates to three. The University weighed experience with the ability to address La Verne’s future needs, and took into consideration feedback from faculty, staff and students from on-campus interview forums, which were broadcast via video stream on the Internet. Nearly 90 percent of La Verne’s faculty and staff who provided feedback indicated Reed was the most appropriate candidate for the position.

“I am confident Dr. Reed’s academic qualifications, professional achievements, understanding of the academic and student support needs at La Verne, and vision for our future success have positioned him to be a successful provost, leader and collaborator at the University of La Verne for years to come,” said University of La Verne President Devorah Lieberman.

Reed has accomplished much in the 11 months he has worked in executive staff. He reorganized the La Verne Experience, a set of academic, community engagement and co-curricular initiatives. He co-facilitated the Compensation Task Force, which handles salaries, and worked to improve student retention, among other achievements.

“I am thankful for the vote of confidence both from President Lieberman and the campus community, allowing me to continue to work with faculty on enhancing academic quality while elevating the national reputation of University of La Verne,” Reed said. “When I came to this institution as a professor 22 years ago, I fell in love with the students at La Verne and felt motivated to make a difference in the classroom. Now, I intend to make a difference for the University as a whole.”

Reed came to La Verne in 1992 as an assistant professor of religion and earned his doctorate in religion from Claremont Graduate University two years later. He chaired La Verne’s Department of Religion & Philosophy twice before becoming interim dean of the College of Arts & Sciences in 2009, a position that became permanent for him in 2012. He began serving as interim provost following the departure of former Provost Greg Dewey in 2013.

A respected authority on archaeology and early Christianity, he has authored and co-authored numerous books including “The Harper Collins’ Visual Guide to the New Testament” and “Excavating Jesus.” He has worked on excavations in Israel and conducted research across the Mediterranean, including Rome and Athens. His work in higher education earned him numerous honors and awards, including the Excellence in Teaching Award at La Verne in 2003.

Reed has appeared on numerous radio and television networks as a religion scholar during his career, including the Discovery Channel, CNN, ABC’s “Good Morning America,” and the National Geographic Channel.