Dr. Felisa Higgins, Vice Provost and Dean of the John Martinson Honors College
After a nationwide search, Felisa Higgins, Donan Professor of Business at Pennsylvania State University, was selected to head the John Martinson Honors College (JMHC) at Purdue University.
Higgins will serve as Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Mitch Daniels School of Business and Professor of Practice (honorary) in Industrial Engineering, in addition to her role as Associate Vice Provost and Dean of the JMHC, with responsibilities including all of Purdue’s honors programs and students.
At Penn State, Higgins served as associate dean for undergraduate education in the university’s Smeal College of Business, where she led the Office of Undergraduate Education and served nearly 6,000 students.
Higgins earned her Ph.D. in industrial engineering from Purdue University, a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Florida State University, and a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Florida A&M University.
An international scholar and expert in supply chain management, she brings years of experience and influence in academia and industry to Purdue, including a long tenure at consumer goods company Kimberly-Clark and its Latin American offices. Her excellence in teaching has also been recognized by several awards at Penn State, including the George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Fred Brand Jr. Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching from Smeal College.
At Smeal, Higgins led a strategic restructuring of the Undergraduate Education office that resulted in numerous initiatives to improve student success. These initiatives included the First@Smeal program for first-year students, programs to promote student wellness, improved retention outcomes, high-impact student engagement opportunities, the Smeal Ethical Leadership Challenge, and the introduction of new majors and innovative experiential learning pathways. Under her leadership, the number of first-year applicants more than doubled during her tenure by strengthening undergraduate enrollment and recruitment efforts.
In her new role, Higgins aims to foster a connected, engaged student body and advance innovative, interdisciplinary programs within the Honors College through strong partnerships with the colleges. During her campus visit, Higgins shared her vision of making the Honors College a center for interdisciplinarity and a laboratory for innovation and academic excellence. She also aims to establish the college as a national center of excellence for honors education.
“When we think about how Purdue takes on big challenges, it’s the next big step that sets us apart,” she said. “A prospective student might think they can do research anywhere, but when they engage with us, they realize that here at Purdue, it’s not just about research. It’s this focus on the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ that sets us apart. We strive to offer experiences that go beyond the surface, where students not only achieve academic success but also have a meaningful impact on the world.”
JMHC was recently ranked as the 8th best honors college in the country.
Higgins joins the JMHC at a pivotal time in the college’s history. The JMHC was recently ranked as the eighth best honors college in the country. The college is also pleased to receive a groundbreaking $750,000 gift from Jeannie and Jim Chaney to establish the Pharmacy and Nursing Scholars Endowment. This significant investment has the goal of providing scholarships for all pharmacy and nursing students who are part of the JMHC and is intended to serve as a model for future scholarship endowments to support all honors students.
Higgins will report to Jenna Rickus, senior vice provost for teaching and learning and the JMHC. Rickus said she looks forward to beginning the college’s next chapter with Higgins at the helm. Rickus also thanked the search advisory committee for helping recruit an experienced leader who embodies Purdue’s values.
“It’s an exciting time for JMHC,” said Rickus. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Higgins on board. He will help us lead the college to a position of national prominence by enhancing academic excellence, expanding the college’s reach and presence across campus, leveraging Purdue’s strengths and helping our exceptionally motivated students become future leaders in the world.”
Andrea Mattingly
Director of Communications for Teaching and Learning and the John Martinson Honors College, [email protected]
