Associate Provost for Institutional Research and Evaluation
As Associate Provost, Dr. Terkla oversees the Institute for Global Leadership, the Office of Institutional Research & Evaluation (OIR&E), and Graduate Diversity programs; serves as the university’s M&E team leader for the USAID funded RESPOND Project; provides guidance across the university on issues relating to institutional research, outcomes assessment, and evaluation; works with schools and departments on various initiatives, e.g., strategic planning, outcomes assessment, fact finding, program reviews; serves as the institutional coordinator for selected university-wide iniatives; provides critical management information to senior administrators; and serves on university-wide committees ( Academic Council, Provost’s Council, Administrative Council, University Committee on Teaching and Faculty Development, Social Science IRB, Tufts Open CourseWare Steering Committee, SIS Steering Committee, as well as, several school-specific committees (A&S Outcomes Assessment Committee, Engineering Educational Objectives and Outcomes Assessment Committee, AS&E Admissions & Financial Aid Committee, TUSDM Outcomes Assessment Committee, and TCSVM Outcomes Assessment Committee).
Dr. Terkla is the University Accreditation Liaison Officer to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and is currently serving as the chair of the 5th Year NEASC Interim Report Steering Committee. In addition, she participates in school-level accreditations, providing support as needed.
She has held leadership positions in several organizations serving as President of both the North East Association for Institutional Research and the Association for Institutional Research, as well as the Chair of the US Dept of Educational National Postsecndary Executive Committee (NPEC) Council on Postsecondary Education Statistics. In addition, she has served on the Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium Board of Directors, the UCLA/ACE Cooperative Institutional Research Program Advisory Committee, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities Commission on Policy Analysis, and numerous National Center for Education Statistics technical review panels.
Dr. Terkla earned a doctorate in higher education research from Harvard University, a Masters of Public Policy from the University of California Berkeley, and a bachelors degree from Ohio Wesleyan University where she majored in politics and government. In addition, she was awarded a management certificate from the Management Institute for Women in Higher Education.
Associate Provost-at-a-Glance
Dawn Geronimo Terkla
Title:
Associate Provost for Institutional Research, Assessment & Evaluation, Tufts University
Academic Credentials:
Ed.D. from Harvard University (1983); MPP Graduate School of Public Policy, University of California Berkeley (1977); BA, Ohio Wesleyan University (1975); Certificate, Management Institute for Women in Higher Education (1987)
Tufts Affiliations
Pre-major academic advisor (1986 to present); Executive Director of Institutional Research (1996-2007)
Former Positions & Professorships
Executive Director, Institutional Research & Evaluation, Tufts University (1996 – 2007); Director, Institutional Research & Planning, Tufts University (1987-1996); Director Analytic Studies (1985-1987), Research Associate in Education, Harvard University Graduate School of Education (1983-1985); Instructor (part-time), Harvard University Graduate School of Education (1983-1990); Consultant, Massachusetts Higher Education Assistance Corporation (1983); Post-Graduate Researcher in Education, University of California – Berkeley (1977-1979)
Research Interests
College-choice decisions, financial aid issues, retention, management information,quality assurance, assessment and evaluation.
Recent Publications & Papers
“Institutional Dashboards: Navigational Tool for Colleges and Universities”, Professional File Association for Institutional Research, Number 123, Winter 2012. http://www.airweb.org/EducationalAndEvents/Publications/Documents/123.pdf
“Using a structural equation model to describe the infusion of civic engagement in the campus culture” (with M. Billings) The Journal of General Education Vol. 60, No. 2, 2011 pp 84-100.
“Survey of opinions about nutritional requirements of senior dogs and analysis of nutrient profiles of commercially available diets for senior dogs” (with D. Hutchinson, L. Freeman, & K. Schreiner) International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine Vol. 9, No. 1, 2011 pp 68-79.
“Laying the Foundation: Institutional Research Office Organization, Staffing and Career Development” (with C. Leimer) in Imagining the Future of Institutional Research. New Directions for Institutional Research, no 143, pp. 43-58. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, Fall 2009.
“A Mixed-Method, Longitudinal Approach to Assessing Civic Learning Outcomes” (with R. JB. Tan, S. Topping) in Banta, Jones & Black Designing Effective Assessment: Principles and Profiles of Good Practice, San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2009.
Institutional Research: More than Just Data. New Directions for Higher Education, (editor) no. 141. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, Spring 2008.
New Directions for Institutional Research: Advancing Sustainability in Higher Education, (edited with L. Litten), vol. 2007, no.134.
“Models and resources for advancing sustainable institutional and societal progress.” (with L. Litten) New Directions for Institutional Research: Advancing Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 2007, no 134, pp. 95-117.
“Voices from around the World: International Undergraduate Student Experiences.” (with H. Roscoe & J. Etish-Andrews) AIR Professional File, Summer 2007, no. 104.
“Civic Engagement: A Study of Changes in College” (w. L. O?Leary, N. Wilson & A. Diaz) Academic Exchange Quarterly. Summer 2007, vol. 11, no. 2.
“Civic Engagement Assessment: Linking Activities to Attitudes” (with L. O?Leary, N. Wilson & A. Diaz) Assessment Update May/June 2007, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 1, 2, 14-16.
“Using Dashboard Indicators Effectively” invited speaker at the Higher Education Accounting Forum a National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) professional development program, San Francisco, CA, March 28, 2006.
“IR is more than just data” invited speaker at the Irish University Quality Board’s forum on The Future of Institutional Research in Irish Higher Education, Dublin, Ireland, November 22, 2005.
“Effective Administrative Involvement: The role of institutional research, the university liaison officer and administrative staff.” lecture presented at the Japan Institution for Higher Education Evaluation’s International Seminar for University Evaluation, Tokyo, Japan, August 10, 2005, and Kyoto, Japan, August 12, 2005.
“Outcomes assessment at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.” Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, Spring 2002, vol. 29, Issue 1, 32-36.
Notable Honors
Outstanding Service Award, Association for Institutional Research, 2006 , Distinguished Service Award, North East Association for Institutional Research, 2002, Harvard Educational Review Editorial Board, 1980-1982, Phi Beta Kappa, 1975, Magna Cum Laude, Ohio Wesleyan University, 1975
Notable Professional Affiliations
American Educational Research Association
Association for Institutional Research
(Vice President 2000-01, President 2001-02, Board of Directors 1996-1998, 2000-2003, Forum Chair 1998)
US News & World Report Advisory Committee 2000 to present (Ethics Committee, Financial Task Force)
Association for the Study of Higher Education
Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium (Board of Directors 1991-1997, 1998-2003)
National Postsecondary Education Cooperative (NPEC) Council on Postsecondary Education Statistics
(Council Member 1995 to present, Steering Committee Member 1998-2002, Executive Committee Member 2002 to present, Executive Committee Member Chair 2003-2005)
North East Association for Institutional Research (Program Chair 1989-1990, Vice President 1991-92, President 1992-93)
Society for College and University Planning
Related Web Sites
Office of Institutional Research
E-Mail: Dawn G. Terkla
