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DASA Interim Leaders Named

Provost Warwick Arden selects two seasoned administrators to lead the Division of Academic and Student Affairs on an interim basis.

The Belltower at NC State.

Two longtime educators have been named to lead the Division of Academic and Student Affairs on an interim basis. Senior Associate Vice Chancellor Lisa Zapata will serve as interim vice chancellor of the division, and Senior Associate Dean Bret Smith will serve as interim dean of University College.

Provost Warwick Arden made the appointments Aug. 16 after Mike Mullen stepped down as vice chancellor and dean.

Zapata earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill, then completed a master’s in counselor education and a Ph.D. in educational research and policy analysis at NC State. She has served in NC State’s student affairs division for 21 years.

Smith earned a bachelor’s in industrial technology, a master’s in English and a master’s in industrial design, all at Purdue University. Before joining NC State, he was a longtime professor at Auburn University, where he served as director of interdisciplinary studies.