Lehigh Appoints Cheryl Ann Matherly as Vice President and Vice Provost for International Affairs

Dr. Cheryl Ann Matherly, currently vice provost for global education at the University of Tulsa, has been appointed as Lehigh’s new vice president and vice provost for international affairs.

Matherly, an experienced and highly respected university administrator with nearly 15 years of experience working in international affairs, will formally take office at Lehigh on March 31. She will replace Gary Sasso, dean of the College of Education, who was appointed to the position in an interim role effective October 1.

Matherly was selected after a comprehensive search process that drew interest from an impressive field of candidates. Lehigh Provost Patrick V. Farrell said that Matherly’s experience, enthusiasm and proven track record of success helped her stand out as the ideal candidate for Lehigh.

“We are excited to welcome someone with Cheryl's experience and eagerness to engage with students, faculty and staff,” Farrell said. “I'm looking forward to seeing Cheryl contribute to Lehigh's evolving global view, and am excited to see our international activity grow from its already very substantial place."

At Tulsa, Matherly serves as the university’s senior international officer and is charged with providing strategic leadership for its numerous international education programs, including study abroad, university partnerships, dual degree programs, curriculum internationalization and faculty development. She has served in her current role since 2011, and previously served as both assistant provost for global education and associate dean for global education.

During her tenure at Tulsa, Matherly has been credited with leading the development of the university’s strategic plan for internationalization; greatly expanding study abroad opportunities; helping create the Faculty Internationalization Grant program for faculty development; directing efforts to develop new collaborations in China and more.

“Cheryl has served the University of Tulsa well, greatly advancing our internationalization of the curriculum and the campus and helping us build bonds with partner universities at home and abroad,” said Tulsa provost Roger Blais. “We wish her and her husband, Steve Wilson, all the best in this next stage of their professional and personal lives.”

Matherly, who has authored or co-authored three books, numerous chapters and journal articles, also remains active in the classroom as an applied assistant professor in Tulsa’s Department of Educational Studies, a role she has held since 2007. Before arriving at Tulsa, Matherly served as assistant dean of students for career and international education and as director of the career services center at Rice University in Houston.

She has an Ed.D. in education from the University of Houston, an M.S. in college student personnel administration from Indiana University and a B.A. in English literature and political science from the University of New Mexico.

“Cheryl will bring precisely the kind of experience and energy that Lehigh needs to help push our international programs forward,” Farrell said. “We are thrilled that she will be joining us, and look forward to welcoming her to the Lehigh community this spring.”

Added Farrell: “I would also like to thank Gary Sasso and all of the members of the search committee for the time and effort they contributed to this important process.”

Committee members included:

Gary Sasso, Dean, College of Education, Chair of the Search Committee
Paul Brockman, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs, College of Business and Economics
Maria Chrin ’87 ’10P, Lehigh University Trustee
Petrina Davidson, Graduate Student, College of Education
Kathleen Hutnik, Associate Dean and Director, Graduate Student Life
Susan Kart, Assistant Professor, Art, Architecture and Design
Stephen Kazar, Director, Global Online Graduate Degrees and Training Office, College of Education
Jacqueline Krasas, Associate Dean for Interdisciplinary Programs and International Initiatives, College of Arts and Sciences
Kiri Lee, Associate Professor, Modern Languages and Literatures
Donna Mohr, Director, Graduate Recruiting, P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
Stephen Pessiki, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Massooma Pirbhai, Research Assistant and Graduate Student, Physics
Paul Salerni, Professor, Music
Gregory Tonkay, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
Karen O’Donnell VanderGoot ’99, Lehigh University Trustee
Alexander Wiseman, Associate Professor, College of Education
Yuliang (Oliver) Yao, Associate Professor, Management