Metropolitan State University of Denver is initiating a substantial strategic realignment within its Academic Affairs division, a decisive move orchestrated by Provost Matt Makley, Ph.D., to address the evolving demands of modern higher education. After nearly a year at the helm, Makley has centered the institution’s academic restructuring on a single, unambiguous priority: student success. This foundational principle is the driving force behind every administrative and structural change, with the explicit goal of tangibly improving key student outcomes such as retention and graduation rates. The comprehensive reforms are not isolated shifts but part of a cohesive strategy to forge an environment where university personnel are empowered to perform their duties with maximum effectiveness, ensuring all facets of the academic enterprise—from curriculum development to faculty support—are aligned toward this ultimate mission of supporting students from enrollment to commencement.
A Strategic Vision for Academic Affairs
A central theme driving the reorganization is the imperative to build greater strategic capacity within Academic Affairs by consolidating and realigning existing roles rather than expanding the administrative footprint. Provost Makley identified a critical need for a more integrated leadership structure, particularly given that the division manages half of the university’s total operational budget. The reforms directly address this need, aiming for more robust stewardship of resources and the strengthening of the university’s long-term financial health. The strategy intentionally avoids creating a new layer of administrative positions, focusing instead on refining the current leadership framework. This approach involves elevating existing roles, merging previously siloed portfolios, and more purposefully aligning the responsibilities of key leaders to create a leaner, more agile, and strategically cohesive team. This streamlined structure is designed to eliminate redundancies and foster a more transparent, solutions-oriented culture that empowers individuals and departments.
The overarching objective of this strategic enhancement is to cultivate an institutional ecosystem that provides more effective and direct support to the university’s schools, colleges, and, most importantly, its student body. The leadership changes are designed to ensure that academic priorities are not developed in a vacuum but are fully integrated with the university’s comprehensive strategic plan, fostering a collaborative environment where innovation can flourish. By clarifying roles and fostering a culture of accountability, the realignment empowers departments to excel on behalf of students. This top-down reform is predicated on the belief that a stronger, more aligned administrative structure is a prerequisite for achieving the university’s core mission. The system being architected by Provost Makley is one where every component of the academic enterprise is purposefully oriented toward creating meaningful learning experiences and removing barriers to student completion, thereby delivering on the promise of higher education.
The New Leadership Vanguard
The practical manifestation of this strategy is a newly formed leadership structure within the Office of the Provost, with each appointment carefully designed to fortify a specific aspect of the academic enterprise. Shaun Schafer, Ph.D., was appointed Vice Provost for Academic Affairs in summer 2025, a role that significantly expands his previous duties. While continuing to oversee curriculum, academic effectiveness, and policy development, his new position grants him high-level strategic leadership across the full spectrum of academic operations. His expanded responsibilities now encompass personnel management, budget allocation, and the strategic use of instructional facilities, all while spearheading key initiatives aimed directly at improving student retention and graduation rates. Simultaneously, Terry Bower was promoted to Academic Affairs Chief Strategy Officer in fall 2025. Her new role is central to aligning the academic division with the university’s broader strategic vision, ensuring MSU Denver is “future-ready” and responsive to the rapidly evolving higher education landscape.
Complementing these roles are two other key appointments designed to strengthen the financial and operational integrity of the academic division. Amy Middleton was appointed as the Executive Director of Academic Affairs Budget and Strategy in fall 2025, a new role created to bring unified and expert strategic guidance to the division’s financial management. Transitioning from her previous position in the College of Health and Human Sciences, Middleton now oversees resource allocation, financial forecasting, and long-range planning for all units, addressing the previously identified need for more strategic stewardship of the branch’s substantial budget. In parallel, Jill Lange transitioned from Executive Assistant to Chief of Staff to the Provost. In this elevated role, Lange serves as a key strategic partner, overseeing project management and ensuring operational alignment across the division. She is tasked with translating strategic priorities into actionable plans, providing the operational backbone necessary to execute the provost’s vision for cultural and structural change.
Architecting a Future Focused on Students
The aggregated changes implemented at MSU Denver presented a clear and cohesive narrative of deliberate, strategic reform. The overarching trend was a decisive move toward a more centralized, strategic, and integrated leadership model within Academic Affairs, one designed to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability across the board. This comprehensive restructuring was not merely an administrative shuffle but a calculated effort to build the internal capacity required to navigate future challenges and, most importantly, to improve student outcomes. The appointments and consolidated portfolios reflected a consensus viewpoint within the provost’s office that a stronger, more aligned administrative structure was a fundamental prerequisite for achieving the university’s core mission. By consolidating portfolios, clarifying roles, and fostering a culture of deep collaboration, the leadership team architected a system where every component of the academic enterprise was purposefully oriented toward the ultimate goal of student success.
