UC announces new chief academic officer

“I’m thrilled to promote such a strategic and visionary leader to guide our pursuit of academic excellence at the University of Cincinnati,” says Pinto. “He is a compassionate educator and administrator who believes deeply in inclusion and taking a student-centered approach to advancing higher education.”

His selection follows a national search and a thorough vetting process that included campus-based open forums with finalists.

“I am humbled and thrilled to have been selected as the new provost,” Ferme said. “As we emerge from two challenging years, during which we have produced exceptional outcomes, the vision laid out by the president for an institution of higher learning that distinguishes itself as an anchor in service of its internal and external communities inspired me to step into the role. I am excited to collaborate in reaching the next level of fulfillment for this vision.”  

Prior to UC, he served as dean of the College of Arts and Letters at Northern Arizona University after having spent nearly 19 years at the University of Colorado Boulder. During his tenure there, he held several administrative positions, including department chair and divisional dean. He joined Colorado Boulder in 1998 as assistant professor of Italian, comparative literature and film and was promoted to associate professor in 2005 and professor in 2015.

A double-degree earner in biology and religious studies at Brown University as an undergraduate, he received his master’s degree in comparative literature and Italian studies from Indiana University and his doctorate in comparative literature from UC-Berkeley, where he also was awarded Fulbright and Chancellor’s Fellowships.

As a scholar, he has published three monographs, three edited volumes, two scholarly translations and a bilingual collection of poetry, in addition to more than 60 articles and reviews. As a faculty member and administrator at the University of Colorado, he was recognized for his pedagogy with the Boulder Faculty Assembly Excellence in Teaching Award and for his work in inclusive excellence on behalf of staff and underrepresented graduate students with a Special Recognition Award from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement. He also spent three years as president of the American Association of Italian Studies.