Freng Named UW Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

Longtime University of Wyoming faculty member and administrator Adrienne Freng has been selected as UW's next vice provost for faculty affairs, effective Monday, June 22.

She succeeds Dave Bagley, who will transition to serve as special assistant to the vice provost.

"Dr. Freng brings an extraordinary depth of experience in faculty leadership, shared governance, academic administration, policy development and faculty support to this role," Interim Provost Anne Alexander says. "A nationally respected scholar in criminal justice and criminology, Dr. Freng also is widely known across campus for her thoughtful leadership, collaborative approach, institutional knowledge and deep commitment to supporting faculty success. Throughout the search process, she demonstrated a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing faculty and higher education today, along with a clear commitment to advancing a healthy, supportive and forward-looking academic environment at UW."

Currently the associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, Freng has been a UW faculty member for 25 years. During her UW career, she has served as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology; interim chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance; chair of the Faculty Senate; a Presidential Faculty Fellow; and faculty conciliator.

Freng received her bachelor's degree in sociology and psychology from Black Hills State University in 1995; her master's degree in sociology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1997; and her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2001. She became an assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice in 2001, eventually rising to professor.