Carol A. Fierke

Dr. Carol A. Fierke has served as Provost and Executive Vice President of Texas A&M University since 2017. As the university’s chief academic officer, she leads all aspects of the university’s academic mission, research, diversity and strategic planning. Dr. Fierke oversees the academic deans of 17 colleges and schools, two special purpose branch campuses, university libraries, and academic affairs. She also holds professorships in chemistry and biochemistry.
 
During her tenure as Provost, Dr. Fierke has overseen essential university priorities, such as the A&M Abroad: Global Engagement Plan, the Student Success Initiative, a comprehensive commitment to increase retention for first-year students, boost graduation rates, and reduce achievement disparities, and the Faculty Investment Initiative.
 
Prior to joining Texas A&M, Dr. Fierke served as Dean of the Rackham Graduate School and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs ‒ Graduate Studies at the University of Michigan. She also held the Jerome and Isabella Karle Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry chair in the College of Literature, Science & Arts.
 
A world leader in research, Dr. Fierke received the American Chemical Society’s Repligen Award in Chemistry of Biological Processes and the Protein Society’s Emil Thomas Kaiser Award for her contributions in the application of chemistry to the study of enzymes. In 2019 she earned the Mildred Cohn Award in Biological Chemistry from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Her research has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health and other agencies and foundations, including the National Science Foundation, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Office of Naval Research, the Keck Foundation, and the Welch Foundation.
 
Dr. Fierke has inspired her students to achieve significant advancements in research, earning her a national Sigma Xi Monie A. Ferst Award from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Nominated by former students, she was lauded for her mentorship, dedication to teaching and a tireless commitment to diversity, particularly in STEM disciplines.
 
She has been honored for improving campus environments for faculty and students, especially women in science, and has won numerous awards and honors, including the 2016 American Chemical Society’s National Award for Encouraging Women into Careers in the Chemical Sciences.
 
Dr. Fierke earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Brandeis University and a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry from Carleton College. 
 

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