Earlier this year, Sister Donna Jurick’s role as vice president of Academic Affairs was sectioned off and distributed among other staff members. As a result, Brenda Vallance now acts as temporary vice president of Academic Affairs.

Jurick joined St. Edward’s University in 1988 as vice president and academic dean. Her title later expanded to include provost and to executive vice president in 2006, and a position as the university’s chief academic officer.

“I was speaking to a friend the other day,” Jurick said, “And she joked, ‘you gave up half your job and still manage to not leave at 6:30!’”

Formerly the dean of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Vallance will take over the role temporarily until the university can find a permanent replacement for vice president of Academic Affairs (VPAA).

“You hire a search firm to generate candidates, which is exactly what we have begun to do,” Jurick said. “We will hire over the course of this year a VPAA.”

Jurick said that the division, as well as the need for a permanent VPAA, was “in order to address the fact that the institution is growing,” necessitating changes in the organization of roles.

“Positions similar to the VPAA in the past reported directly to Sr. Donna, and the current VPAA position now reports directly to the president,” Vallance said.

Vallance said that the job posting is advertised in The Chronicle of Higher Education, as well as on the university’s website. Vallance will be applying for the job of permanent vice president of Academic Affairs.

Jurick continues to be heavily involved in academic affairs. She continues to reside on the president’s administrative staff, is chair on the university’s Strategic Planning Committee (2010-2015) and on the Academic and Graduate Council. Jurick is also a staff member of the Board of Trustees’ Institutional Oversight and Academic Affairs Committee.

“I’m happy continuing to be [executive] VP,” Jurick said.