After more than a year as Plymouth State University’s interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, Julie N. Bernier has been formally appointed provost and vice president for academic affairs.
“Dr. Bernier has earned the respect of her colleagues for her vision, educational values, and integrity,” President Sara Jayne Steen said. “She has been an extraordinary interim provost and worked effectively and collaboratively to ensure student success at all levels. In her, Plymouth State has a stellar academic leader.”
Bernier’s appointment is the culmination of 20 years of teaching and service to Plymouth State. She began her career in 1988 as a staff member in athletic training and has served the University in a variety of ways since. In 1997, she was named the director of graduate and undergraduate athletic training education, and from 2000 to 2002, she served as chair of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (now Health and Human Performance). In June 2002, after a national search, Bernier was named the associate vice president for undergraduate studies. When the Frost School of Continuing and Professional Studies was created in 2005, she served as acting director.
Throughout her PSU career, Bernier has served on more than 35 University committees as well as numerous state and national committees and organizations. Her dedication to teaching and service to PSU was recognized in 2003 when she received the Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award.
In addition to her contributions to PSU, Bernier has made important contributions to the fields of higher education and athletic training. Early in her career, she spent a summer as head athletic trainer at Bela Karolyi’s World Gymnastics facility, working with U.S. Olympic and championship gymnasts. In 2001, she received the National Athletic Trainer’s Association’s multimedia award for outstanding Web course design. She is the author or co-author of two books and dozens of articles and conference presentations and serves on editorial boards of top journals. Her service to the campus, profession, and community has been impressive, from being a member of the Pemi Valley Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors to serving six years as chair of Grants for the Research Foundation of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.
“Plymouth State University is more than an institution of higher learning. It is a community of people who care deeply about our students and about each other,” said Bernier. “I have been proud to serve Plymouth State University for 20 years as a member of the staff, faculty, as a department chair, and as associate vice president for undergraduate studies. And now I am honored and humbled to have been asked to serve as provost. I look forward to the coming years and the great things that we will accomplish together.”
