Manoj Chopra has been named Interim Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies. Chopra, who joined UCF’s Civil Engineering faculty in 1993, will begin the position on December 1.
In his new role, Chopra will oversee existing programs within the Office of Undergraduate Studies, including experiential learning, information fluency, and programs designed to prepare students for STEM careers or graduate education. He will serve in this administrative capacity while a national search takes place for a permanent position.
An advocate for undergraduate research and student success beyond the classroom, Chopra is the Executive Director of UCF’s Stormwater Management Academy. He also is actively involved with several interdisciplinary and STEM-related initiatives across campus, including the EXCEL and COMPASS programs, and has received multiple university awards for undergraduate teaching and advising.
This year, Chopra was selected as a Provost Faculty Fellow, assisting with the university’s academic priority setting process, and is a co-lead for UCF’s Foundations of Excellence Transfer Initiative, a multi-year initiative with the John N. Gardner Institute that promotes awareness of experiences unique to transfer students and bridges gaps between academic and student affairs support to achieve greater retention and graduation rates.
Chopra is a former UCF Board of Trustees member, previous chair of UCF’s Faculty Senate, and has served as the Chair of the Advisory Council of Faculty Senates of Florida and a member of the Board of Governors.