How ‘Conan the Bacterium’ withstands extreme radiation
December 9, 2024
Jake Julia, vice provost of administration and chief of staff at Northwestern University, was selected as the 2018 recipient of the Maury Cotter Leader of Change Award by the Network for Change and Continuous Innovation (NCCI).
The award is presented annually to a leader in higher education who demonstrates excellence and outstanding contributions to change and innovation. Julia was recognized at NCCI’s annual conference in Long Beach, California, on July 19.
As vice provost for administration and chief of staff in the Office of the Provost, Julia is responsible for academic administration, including planning, strategy, budget, and academic facilities and operations in coordination with the vice provost for academics.
Prior to assuming the role of vice provost in December 2017, Julia served as associate provost and concurrently as associate vice president of the Office of Change Management, an office he led since its inception in 2000.
Under his leadership, the office facilitated numerous major change initiatives across the University, including the integration of Student Financial Services, the restructuring of administrative functions within The Graduate School, implementation of a University-wide undergraduate advising system, integration of undergraduate student international programs and multiple efforts within and across Northwestern’s schools and central support units. He is also a lecturer in the School of Education and Social Policy.
Created in 2013, the NCCI Leaders of Change recognition program identifies leaders of change throughout higher education, recognizes them for their accomplishments and helps link them with their peers to leverage the impact of their work.
In 2017, the award was named for founding member Maury Cotter in recognition of her significant contributions to NCCI and the higher education profession.
“We are delighted to honor Dr. Julia this year with the Maury Cotter Leaders of Change Award,” said NCCI President Cindy Taylor. “His pioneering vision to establish a change office in a higher education institution established him as a leader among change leaders.”
NCCI is a community of academic and administrative change leaders who collaborate to share ideas, innovations and best practices. Membership is institution based and includes representation from higher education leaders across the world. NCCI has more than 90 institutional members and more than 1,000 individual members worldwide.
