Portrait photo of Kathy Littles

The Provost Division

Fostering excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, and service.

The Provost Division, led by Dr. Kathy Littles, is the chief academic arm of CIIS. A passionate champion for creative innovation, student-centered success, and building a culture of belonging, Dr. Littles ensures that CIIS offers a multiplicity of exceptional learning, teaching, and research experiences for both students and faculty. 

The purview of the Provost Division is to direct the University's diverse academic efforts and initiatives to nurture a flourishing community for students and enables faculty to excel in teaching and scholarship. Our teacher-scholars pursue radical curiosity and fearless inquiry at the leading-edge of knowledge and forge creative and impactful works that inspire and challenge, infusing passion and rigor into their teaching. They engage students in transformative, experiential, and embodied learning, demonstrating the whole person educational approach that defines CIIS.

We support faculty across the arc of their professional lives – through curricular innovation, compensation, professional development, and external grants. We’re committed to aligning academic resources with the college’s mission and Seven Commitments and to making CIIS a wonderful place to learn and work.

Photo of S. Brock Blomberg and Kathy Littles sitting with microphones
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Welcome from Provost Kathy Littles

“One of the driving reasons I returned to CIIS was because of my ardent respect for the faculty. Their commitment to rigorous scholarship and transformative education, concern for student learning and development, and values-based service and advocacy is an inspiration.”

Provost Division

The Provost oversees seven essential areas of the University overseen by the Vice Provost and Deans.

Vice Provost Michelle Eng

Academic Administration

Dean Ben Cline-Suzuki
Dean Karen McClendon

Institutional Planning and Effectiveness

Executive Dean Dr. Kris Brandenburger
Dean Shederick McClendon
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Celebrating Faculty

CIIS’ extraordinary faculty come from a diversity of backgrounds and experiences and are dedicated to transformative integral education.

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Faculty Development

Supporting and promoting effective teaching, focused on student-centered learning, faculty scholarship, and professional development, including work-life affairs.

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Advancing diverse and inclusive excellence is a University-wide initiative reflected in CIIS’ mission and Seven Commitments.

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Institutional Effectiveness

We aim to provide accurate and timely information and analysis that enables CIIS to track, critically assess, and communicate its progress.

Transformation by the Numbers

A snapshot of why CIIS is such a special community.

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13-1

Student-Faculty ratio

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33%

Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)

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1,540 

Course Sections

Contact

California Institute of Integral Studies
Office of the Provost
1453 Mission Street  
San Francisco, CA 94103  
Email: provostdivision@ciis.edu

Meet the Staff of the Office of the Provost