“Dr. Vermeulen is the right person for Stockton at this time in its history,” said Kesselman. “Her credentials are extraordinary and her accomplishments and achievements are simply outstanding. We all look forward to working with her.”

Vermeulen’s responsibilities as Stockton’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs will include providing the vision, leadership and strategic planning for the university’s academic programs, providing direction and support for the recruitment, appointment and advancement of faculty, assembling and allocating resources to support academic programs, strengthening the links between the university and local and regional employers for the purposes of internships, clinical and practicum positions such as student teaching and employment opportunities. She will also serve on the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees, and as a member of the institution’s cabinet.

Vermeulen said she is thrilled to be joining the Stockton University team. "There is a real sense of community here," she said. "Stockton has a firm commitment to the liberal arts tradition and a unique focus on interdisciplinary approaches to education, making it distinctive in the region and on the national stage."

She has over 20 years of experience in the field of higher education, in many leadership roles. She holds a Ph.D. and a Master’s degree in Chemistry from Princeton University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Scranton. She is both dean and a tenured professor of Chemistry at West Chester University, a regional public university. She served as interim associate dean and chair of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, from 2003-2007.

As dean of the largest college at West Chester University, Vermeulen led a tenure-track faculty of 280, 13 departments, six interdisciplinary programs, and an annual budget of $30 million, which stretched from the natural and social sciences to the humanities and liberal arts.

Her academic credentials include 16 authored and co-authored scholarly publications, over 80 authored and co-authored papers, three patents, $1.8 million in grants, and many presentations to regional and national conferences. As a graduate of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Becoming a Provost Academy, Vermeulen has stated she is “committed to a higher education environment which focuses on teaching and learning as the core.”

Among her many achievements during her nine years as dean at West Chester, Vermeulen created successful grant programs supporting faculty development, student engagement, diversity initiatives, graduate assistantships, international outreach, entrepreneurialism, and innovation. She also played an instrumental role in transforming a budget deficit of $250,000 to a $1.6 million surplus in two years, through effective collaboration and the use of a resource allocation model which supported institutional goals.

Her research and publications in chemistry span materials chemistry, drug delivery and polymer chemistry. She has received numerous grants in support of her research as well as several awards recognizing her commitment to excellence in teaching. She also has five years of experience as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry.

On a personal note, Vermeulen says she enjoys quilting, cooking, reading, writing and exercise, and recently completed her third half-marathon.

In making the announcement, Kesselman thanked the members of the search committee, led by co-chairs Theresa Bartolotta, dean of the School of Health Sciences, and Louise Sowers, associate professor of Chemistry. He also thanked the university community for taking part in the on-campus candidate interviews.

“Finally, I would like to acknowledge the extraordinary leadership of Dr. Susan Davenport who, this past year, has been fulfilling the role of interim provost and executive vice president,” Kesselman said. “Dr. Davenport’s leadership, planning, evaluative skills, academic and financial acumen have been paramount in moving the institution forward during a pivotal time in the university’s history. She has been the consummate professional and a wonderful colleague.”