Michaele Whelan has a B.A., summa cum laude, from Cornell University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in English and American Literature from Harvard University. A humanist with over twenty years of experience in higher education, first in academic and then administrative roles, she has worked with school deans, faculty, students, staff and trustees to shape an academic vision and academic priorities for Brandeis University and Tufts University. She has taught in English departments and programs in American Studies and Women’s Studies at The Pennsylvania State University, Harvard University, Tufts and Brandeis. Her area of expertise is modern and postmodern American literature with a focus on gendered narratology. She is the recipient of teaching awards, has published in her field, and is a member of the academic honor societies Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. In her role as provost and vice president of academic affairs for the college, Michaele provides leadership for academic planning, program development at the undergraduate and graduate levels, assessment, advancement of scholarship, research and creative work, excellence in teaching, global engagement initiatives, and academic innovation including online learning. Responsible for advocating for and supporting faculty, ensuring the academic rigor of the learning experiences at Emerson.