Kim Greer, Ph.D.
kgreer@providentconsults.com
Dr. Kimberly Greer served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Stanislaus State from 2017 – 2021 and then at Cal State East Bay from 2021-2022. Prior to this appointment, she served in many roles at Minnesota State University, Mankato including the Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, interim associate provost and associate vice president for Academic Affairs, and was a faculty member in the Department of Sociology and Corrections.
Throughout her career, Dr. Greer has demonstrated a passion for assuring access and success for all students as well as a strong commitment to faculty excellence, community engagement as well as equity and inclusion. She has worked to establish procedures and practices that improve student retention and completion rates along with working to close the equity gap for underrepresented students.
Dr. Greer has a wealth of experience in strategic planning, budgeting, and team building. Dr. Greer earned both her BS in Criminal Justice and MSA from Southeast Missouri State University and her Doctorate in Sociology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
Katie Olivant, Ed.D
kolivant@providentconsults.com
Dr. Olivant recently retired from California State University, Stanislaus. During her 25 years at the university, she served as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Chair of the Liberal Studies Department, and Associate Professor of Liberal Studies.
Katie was the Assessment Coordinator for her department and Assessment Facilitator for Undergraduate Programs for the College of Education, Kinesiology and Social Work. She also served as the Coordinator of Outreach, Communications, and Graduate Learning Services for CEGE (Center for Excellence in Graduate Education), and as the Coordinator of Service Learning for PACE (Program for Academic and Career Excellence).
Prior to transitioning to faculty, she taught courses in Business Writing, Leadership Development, and First-Year Experience. She also served in a variety of student services roles at CSU Stanislaus, including Director of Student Leadership and Development, and Executive Assistant and Judicial Affairs Officer for the Division of Student Affairs.
Throughout her career, Dr. Olivant has engaged in successful grant-writing, action research, program evaluation, and accreditation activities. In addition to the evaluation and assessment of educational programs’ effectiveness, her research interests involve the roles of creativity, critical thinking and reflection in both K-12 and higher education. Dr. Olivant received her Ed.D in Educational Leadership from UC Davis / CSU Fresno, M.B.A. from Northwestern University, and B.A. in Journalism from Indiana University.
Brandon Price, Ed.D.
bprice@providentconsults.com
Brandon has over 20 years of experience in higher education, including experience in grant writing, assessment and evaluation, and institutional research.
He currently serves as the Associate Vice President for Student Success at Stanislaus State. Prior to serving in this role he served in a variety of roles at Columbia College including Associate Dean of Student Equity and Success, Dean of Student Services, and Dean of Career Technical Education and Economic Development.
While serving at Columbia College, his responsibilities included coordination of the institution’s Student Equity and Success Advisory Council and oversight of a variety of special programs including Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS), TRiO, and CalWORKS, as well as additional programs serving former foster youth, veterans, incarcerated students, English language learners, and dual enrolled students.
Dr. Price’s passion for promoting student equity and success has also been evident in his research which has included examinations of: rural student access and success; student self-efficacy among STEM students; Hispanic student matriculation in graduate education; and research regarding the effect of peer interaction on student retention and graduation.
Amanda Theis, MPA
atheis@providentconsults.com
Amanda has over 10 years of professional experience in governmental, non-profit, and higher education organizations. She currently serves as a senior administrator within the Division of Academic Affairs at Stanislaus State. Prior to this, she served as Special Assistant to the University President at Stanislaus State, Director of Operations and Government Affairs at a local non-profit organization, and as a communications consultant and legislative aide in the California State Legislature.
Amanda holds a B.A. in Government from Sacramento State University and a Master of Public Administration from Stanislaus State.