USNA SELECTS DR. BRIANNE BILSKY AS ASSOCIATE PROVOST FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
POSTED ON: Monday, April 8, 2024 11:55 AM by mediarelations@usna.edu
Dr. Brianne Bilsky has been appointed as Associate Provost for Academic Affairs for the U.S. Naval Academy effective July 15, marking the first time an individual from outside the Naval Academy has filled this role.
Bilsky, who holds a doctorate in English from Stanford University, emerged as the successful candidate from a nationwide search. She will become the sixth person to hold the position since its inception in the 1980s.
In her capacity as Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, Bilsky will oversee all matters pertaining to curriculum management and classroom instruction, encompassing scheduling, registration, validation, academic advising, academic calendar, and academic accountability. She will serve as the chief advisor to the Academic Dean and Provost on curricular issues at USNA.
“The APAA role requires empathy, wisdom, teamwork, and an appreciation of both academic standards and military service,” said Academic Dean and Provost Dr. Samara Firebaugh. “Dr. Bilsky’s combination of experiences uniquely positions her to bring a fresh perspective to USNA while at the same time understanding our mission to prepare men and women to become leaders for our nation. Dr. Bilsky will be a welcome member to our Naval Academy family.”
Since 2018, Bilsky has served as the Dean of a residential college at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. Prior to her tenure at Yale, she was a faculty member in the Department of English and Philosophy at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. During her four-year tenure at West Point, Bilsky served as an assistant professor of English, teaching 13 courses across seven disciplines. She also provided academic guidance and mentorship to numerous cadet committees and active-duty officers. Prior to her time at West Point she served as the Assistant Dean of Student Life for Co-Curricular Innovation at Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA.
“I am honored to have been selected to join the faculty and staff at the U.S. Naval Academy in their shared mission to educate and develop midshipmen into leaders who are prepared to excel in their military careers and beyond,” said Bilsky. “It is a privilege to be entrusted with this responsibility. I know the work will be both challenging and rewarding, and I look forward to contributing the knowledge and experience I have gained through my time at both civilian and military educational institutions in service of ensuring our midshipmen receive the best education possible.”
Bilsky was honored with the Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award in 2018 and received a Certificate of Appreciation from the United States Military Academy in 2015 for her advisory role in the Excel Scholars Program. Stanford University recognized her contributions with the Centennial Teaching Award in 2009.
Established as the undergraduate college of the nation's naval service, the Naval Academy prepares young men and women to become officers of competence, character, and compassion in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Naval Academy midshipmen are active-duty members of the U.S. Navy. They undergo four years of rigorous education, graduating with bachelor of science degrees and commissions as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps. Graduates of the Naval Academy commit to a minimum of five years of service in the Navy or Marine Corps.
Category: Press Releases, Academics, Midshipman