Dr. Judy Ashcroft, director of the Division of Instructional Innovation and Assessment (DIIA) since 2001, has decided to step down, effective March 1, to focus on her responsibilities as dean of Continuing and Innovative Education, her other administrative role to which she was appointed in 2007.
With Ashcroft’s decision, the reporting of the Division of Instructional Innovation and Assessment will be shifted from Continuing and Innovative Education to the Office of the Provost, effective March 1, according to Provost Steven Leslie.
Dr. Robert G. Bruce Jr. will be interim associate vice provost for DIIA, reporting to Vice Provost Gretchen Ritter. Vice Provost Neal Armstrong will assume, in coordination with Bruce, leadership oversight responsibility for the assessment and outcome portfolio of DIIA.
Bruce, who has been an associate dean in Continuing and Innovative Education since 2006, has been involved with DIIA programs since 2005, when he was deputy director of DIIA. Previously, Bruce worked in Continuing and Innovative Education as assistant director for academic programs for University Extension.
DIIA collaborates with the university’s colleges and schools to support campus initiatives in teaching excellence, teaching with technology, educational research, and instructional and program assessment.
“Judy Aschcroft has given The University of Texas at Austin many years of visionary leadership as she has built DIIA and established excellent campus-wide initiatives in teaching effectiveness, instructional innovation using technology, and assessment and outcomes processes,” Leslie said. “She has had a persistent and effective focus on the enhancement of teaching excellence and the entire UT campus is fortunate, indeed, to have had such a tireless and dedicated leader of DIIA. We are grateful to Judy for her leadership of DIIA since it was formed in 2001.
“I look forward to continuing my work with Dean Ashcroft as she focuses her strong talents on her responsibilities as dean of continuing and innovative education. I am delighted that Dr. Rob Bruce has agreed to serve as our interim associate vice-provost for DIIA. Rob is a deeply knowledgeable and highly respected leader on campus in the area of teaching excellence, instructional innovation and assessment.”
Bruce received his bachelor of arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin and his master of arts and doctor’s degrees from Texas AandM University. He has more than 15 years of teaching experience at the university level, teaching American literature, Mark Twain, humor and culture, and business communication.
Bruce has been a member of the university’s Educational Policy Committee, the Core Curriculum Assessment Steering Committee, the Texas Exes Massey Award Selection Committee, the Technology Enhanced Learning Committee and the Recreational Sports Committee.
