Debra Liebowitz, PhDProvost
Debra J. Liebowitz, Ph.D., is the Provost at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, where she oversees academic strategy and operations for the University. This includes oversight of the University’s eight schools (including the schools of Law and Frank H. Netter, M.D. School of Medicine) and the College of Arts and Sciences. A recognized higher-education leader, she has a distinguished record of forging academic partnerships and programs that foster institutional growth, encourage innovation, strengthen shared governance, promote belonging, and advance student success. She also holds a faculty appointment as Professor of Political Science. Since joining Quinnipiac in 2020, Dr. Liebowitz has advanced major academic investments and initiatives including a new School of Business facility and an interdisciplinary Science, Innovation, Technology and Exploration building called The SITE. She also led efforts to improve student success and retention, to strengthen career services and career preparation, to build competency-based curricula, and to advance interdisciplinary academic collaboration. During her tenure, external grant funding for research and sponsored programs has increased from approximately $1 million to more than $9 million. She has invested in building and strengthening partnerships with companies, nonprofits, and other universities. Under her leadership, the University created an Office of Lifelong Learning to build continuing education opportunities and employer-based programs and a Strategic Partnership Council that brings together individuals across the University to ensure coordinated corporate outreach and robust partnership development. Dr. Liebowitz played a leading role in developing Quinnipiac’s academic alliance with Hartford HealthCare (HHC). She also serves on Hartford HealthCare’s Fairfield Region Board of Directors and on the Finance Committee for Hartford HealthCare Corporation’s Board. She is the author of many articles and research studies in the areas of gender and human rights. She currently serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Human Rights. Before joining Quinnipiac, she spent two decades at Drew University in New Jersey, where she ultimately served as Provost and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. While there, she received multiple awards for teaching, leadership, and service. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon and an M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from Rutgers University. |
