Benedictine University announces the appointment of Dr. Katherine (Kate) Lang as our next Provost and Chief Academic Officer. Dr. Lang comes to us with a wealth of experience and a proven track record of academic leadership. We are very excited to have the privilege of working with her in the years ahead.
Most recently, Dr. Lang served as the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. Prior to this role, she dedicated over two decades to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where she excelled in various capacities, including teaching history, chairing the department, and spearheading the creation of UWEC’s inaugural online degree completion program.
Dr. Lang’s journey in academia is a testament to her dedication and resilience. As a first-generation college student, she earned her BSFS from Georgetown University and went on to attain her PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago.
Dr. Lang also brings a tremendous wealth of diverse experiences to the Provost role. She currently serves as a peer reviewer for HLC, providing her rich context and understanding about both accreditation and recommended practices in higher education. She also has experience in helping to support student activities and engagement beyond the curriculum, which positions her well to lead Benedictine to our next horizon of curricular and co-curricular programming, thus better serving the needs of our community.
“I am delighted to join the very special community that is Benedictine University. Preparing students to excel in their careers and live Benedictine values has never been more important,” stated Dr. Lang.
Kate is married to David Knowlton, an artist, who is represented by Sorrel Sky Gallery in Santa Fe, NM. Her proudest accomplishment is successfully parenting Jack Knowlton, who teaches elementary music and is a first call jazz saxophonist in Kuwait City, and Scott Knowlton who will graduate from Gustavus Adolphus College this spring with a degree in Environmental Science. In her spare time, Kate enjoys reading, traveling, cooking, and gardening.
Dr. Lang will officially join our esteemed community on July 1st.
