Kathryn (Katie) Cardarelli is the University of Louisville executive vice president and university provost. In this capacity, she is second in authority over the university, serves as the chief academic officer and oversees all colleges, schools and deans.

Cardarelli joined UofL as dean of the School of Public Health and Information Sciences in April 2024. In March 2025, she was appointed interim university provost to provide leadership for academic affairs and set the university’s curricula through collaboration with faculty, staff and students.

Cardarelli’s priorities focus on student success. As interim provost, Cardarelli has played a key role in several initiatives such as the development of the university’s 2026-30 Strategic Plan, establishment of the Navigating Teaching Challenges program to support educators as they navigate legislative and policy changes and the development of the Student Success Task Force, which uses informed data and real-time problem-solving to improve student success.

Before coming to UofL, Cardarelli spent 10 years at the University of Kentucky, where she served in several positions, including senior associate provost for administration and academic affairs. She also served as assistant provost and senior assistant provost for faculty affairs, associate dean for academic student and faculty affairs, and department chair at UK. Her research focuses on community-engaged approaches to reducing chronic diseases in rural and urban communities. She has served as principal investigator on more than $14 million in grants funded by the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Department of Agriculture and other sponsors.

A professor of epidemiology and population health, Cardarelli received her Master of Public Health degree at University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. She went on to earn a doctorate in epidemiology at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and completed the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine fellowship at Drexel University.

The executive vice president and university provost (EVPUP) (PDF) manages both the day-to-day and long-term academic operation of the university. The EVPUP provides leadership for the academic affairs is responsible for setting the university’s academic course, through collaboration with faculty, staff and students. The EVPUP is charged with assuring that it stays on course, serves as an advisor to the university president and acts as president during presidential absences.

Related links

• Academic Units

Gail DePuy, Ph.D.,P.E., is the Senior Vice Provost of the University of Louisville. In her role, Dr. DePuy works in partnership with the provost to oversee all academic programs and services across the university.

Dr. DePuy is a professor of Industrial Engineering with over 25 years of teaching, research, and administrative experience. She was previously the associate dean of academic and student affairs for the J.B. Speed School of Engineering from 2015-2021 and she served as interim dean of the Speed School from 2017-2018.

Dr. DePuy received her Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering from The Georgia Institute of Technology, her M.S.I.E. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and her B.S. in industrial engineering from North Carolina State University. Dr. DePuy is a licensed Professional Engineer, has authored over 80 technical papers and has served as Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator on over 5 million dollars of funded research.

Gail DePuy CV (PDF)

Robert (Bob) S. Goldstein, the Vice Provost for Assessment and University Decision Support/Analytics leads the Office of Academic Planning and Accountability (OAPA), which consists of three reporting units: Institutional Research and Planning (IRP), Institutional Effectiveness (IE), and Accreditation and Academic Planning (AAP).

Direct responsibilities support several key university-wide functions, including institutional research, data analytics and visualization, strategic planning, and institutional effectiveness.

The vice provost is also responsible for all matters concerning institutional accreditation (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission of Colleges [SACSCOC]), program-level accreditation, academic program approval and review, educational affiliations, centers and institutes, tuition reciprocity, and the academic common market.

The position also serves as the university liaison to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) on academic-specific data matters.

Goldstein oversees

• Academic Planning and Accountability
• Academic Programs Approval and Review
• Accreditation
• Centers and Institutes
• Institutional Effectiveness
• Institutional Research and Planning

Vice Provost James Begany has the overall strategic and tactical responsibility for undergraduate recruitment, retention, advising practice, and collaboration with academic unit-based advisors and academic support programs.

This individual directs a staff of about 130 in Admissions, Enrollment Management, REACH (Resources for Academic Achievement - the university-wide academic success resource center), Registrar, Student Financial Aid, and Student Success Center, and works regularly with about 65 professional advisors who report to the deans of the schools and colleges.

Cherie Dawson-Edwards, the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, works with the provost and academic deans to oversee all faculty personnel actions and to provide faculty and administrator professional development programs.

Personnel transition services include coordinating and advising related to the university's promotion and tenure process; and assisting deans, department chairs and faculty with issues associated with hiring, retention, reviews, and sabbatical and medical leaves.

The office offers an annual academic leadership program for department chairs and other administrative leaders. The office offers an orientation program for new faculty and deans, and a year-long new faculty professional development program. In addition, the office facilitates the nomination process for national and internal awards and recognition.

The Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs serves as the provost's liaison to the Faculty Senate, and serves in an ex officio capacity on administrative searches and reviews.

The Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs partners with the Vice Provost for Diversity and International Affairs to develop strategies for enhancing faculty diversity and inclusiveness.

This post oversees

• Faculty Affairs
• Faculty Appointment
• Faculty Grievances and Disputes
• Faculty Mediation Policy and Procedure (pdf)
• Faculty Personnel Review Minimum Guidelines
• Faculty Credentials (SACS)
• Faculty Handbook
• REDBOOK

Beth Boehm, the Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs, serves as the provost’s liaison to the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School, which provides university-wide service and support for graduate degrees, academic success and programs that complement the curriculum.

The Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs serves as the provost’s liaison to the Graduate Council (faculty), the Graduate Student Council, the deans and the academic unit faculties, academic advisers and academic support programs to promote graduate student success, engagement and satisfaction at the University of Louisville.

Boehm oversees

• Graduate School

Karlis Kaugars oversees Information Technology Services (ITS) and works with executive and senior leadership teams as well as ITS governance committees to set the unit’s strategic vision, establish and maintain policies and provide IT services across the university. A strategic IT leader, Kaugars brings 30 years of experience working in several IT leadership roles. He comes to UofL from the University of Rhode Island, where he has served as chief information officer and senior advisor to the vice president for administration and finance. Kaugars’ professional experience also includes work in IT leadership roles at several institutions of higher education.

Related links

• Information Technology

Michael Mardis, the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, is the chief student affairs officer for the University of Louisville, overseeing the areas of University Housing and the Resident Experience, Campus Health, Career Services, Counseling, Student Support Services (Grant), Student Engagement, Campus Recreation and Wellness, PEACC, Student Activities Center, Student Government, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Rights and Responsibilities, Dean of Students Office, Commuter and Transfer Initiatives, Parent and Family Programs, Service and International Service Learning, Student Grievance, and Student Advocacy.

Kelvin Thompson, the Vice Provost for Online Strategy and Teaching Innovation, has the following responsibilities:

• Assist units with putting entire academic programs online.
• Provide training and faculty development for faculty members putting courses online.
• Provide support for the learning management system, Blackboard, so that it is an effective system in which faculty teach their online classes.
• Provide faculty development opportunities for faculty teaching face to face classes.
• Schedule meetings and conferences on Shelby Campus using both the Founders Union building and Burhans Hall.
• Facilitate marketing plans for all of the units in the Delphi Center to adequately inform others of the opportunities available through the Delphi Center.
• Provide fiscal oversight of the entire budget for this organization.

Undergraduate affairs provides university-wide service and support for undergraduate programs and policies, general education (assessment and curriculum), academic policies and program review. The office works with the deans on undergraduate issues of all types, including retention, LLCs, and the summer bridge program. The vice provost also serves as liaison to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education for undergraduate issues.

Beth Willey CV (PDF)

Paul Hofmann is the Associate Vice Provost for International Affairs. In this role as senior international officer, he oversees international student recruitment, International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), Education Abroad, International Travel, Global Initiatives and Partnerships, and the Passport Place @ UofL.

Paul earned a BA in Political Science from Adrian College, a MA in Political Science from the University of Toledo, a MA in Higher Education from San Jose State University, and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from Bowling Green State University. He also studied Chinese at Peking University and has lived and traveled extensively throughout Asia.

Related Links:

• International Center
• International Student and Scholar Services

David Schultz, Ph.D., the Vice Provost for Finance and Strategic Initiatives, works with the provost and academic deans to ensure budgets are aligned with the university strategic plan and effectively ensures student success, serves faculty and staff and promotes research success. Schultz also works collaboratively with university leadership to prioritize resource allocation to best align with the mission and vision of the university.

Schultz earned his B.S. in horticulture (Penn State), M.S. in plant and soil sciences (University of Delaware) and Ph.D. in genetics (Penn State) before completing a post-doc in plant lipid biochemistry (Michigan State). Schultz has taught at the university since 2001 (cell and molecular biology, metabolic biochemistry) and runs an active research program focused on plant specialized metabolites for treatment of breast cancer. Schultz’s most recent administrative roles include chair of the Faculty Senate (2020-2022) and interim senior associate dean for finance and strategy in the college of Arts & Sciences (2022-2024).