Office of the Provost

The Office of the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs provides oversight to all academic programs, services, and activities, including academic degree programs, non-degree course offerings, and academic support and services. FSU offers 38 undergraduate degree programs, nine master’s degree programs, and one doctoral degree through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; Lloyd College of Health, Science and Technology; Broadwell College of Business & Economics; and College of Education. There are also numerous certifications and pre-college programs, and many Hence, the Provost’s Office’s interaction with students, faculty and administrators, staff, and external constituencies such as other university administrators, alumni, legislators, and national and international dignitaries is crucial.

Interim Provost

Dr. Sonja M. Brown is a seasoned academic leader, scholar, and communication expert with more than two decades of experience advancing institutional excellence across public, private, and international higher education. She currently serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic & Faculty Affairs at Fayetteville State University, where she is a key strategic advisor to the Senior Vice Chancellor and Provost. In this role, she oversees faculty development and online education, leads policy development and implementation, manages student and faculty grievance processes, and directs all faculty personnel action proceedings.

Dr. Brown’s administrative career spans a distinguished set of leadership appointments. Most recently, she served as Dean and Associate Professor in the College of Media and Mass Communication at the American University in the Emirates, providing academic leadership for undergraduate programs in mass communication and public relations, accreditation oversight, and institutional operations at a diverse, globally focused university in Dubai. Prior to that, she held executive roles as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Great Basin College, Dean of Instruction and Student Services and Dean of Career & Technical Education at Palo Verde College, and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs & Chief Retention Officer at Medaille University. Across these institutions, she led online and post-traditional education, workforce and technical education initiatives, academic support services, faculty development, student retention strategies, and regional community partnerships.

A communication scholar by training, Dr. Brown previously served as Department Chair and Tenured Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where she provided leadership for two academic units, oversaw curriculum design and assessment, guided faculty recruitment and development, and supported student success through advising, experiential learning initiatives, and program review. She also held faculty and administrative appointments at SUNY Empire State College, where she advanced student retention initiatives, community partnerships, and strategic planning efforts across multiple regional sites.

Dr. Brown is an accomplished author and editor whose scholarship explores media representation, race, gender, mentorship, and the experiences of women of color in academic and professional spaces. She has published extensively in books, journals, and edited volumes, including Media Psychology, Communication Research Reports, Quarterly Journal of Speech, and multiple edited collections focusing on identity and social media.

She has completed numerous prestigious leadership development programs, including the University of North Carolina Executive Leadership Institute, the HERS Administrative Leadership Institute, the ACE Department Leadership Academy, and the RP Group Leading from the Middle Academy. Her professional recognitions include the SUNY Explorations in Diversity and Academic Excellence Award, NCA Outstanding Book Award, UAH Excellence in Teaching Award, and the NCA Outstanding Dissertation Award.

Dr. Brown earned her Ph.D. in Interpersonal Communication & Media Studies from the University of Georgia, and her M.A. and B.A. in Speech Communication from California State University, Fresno.

Across every role, Dr. Brown is known for her commitment to equity, access, innovative academic policy, faculty success, and student-centered leadership. Her career reflects a deep dedication to developing thriving academic communities and fostering institutional cultures that support learning, research, and public purpose.