Aria Chernik named Duke Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Applied Research

Aria Chernik
Aria Chernik, J.D., Ph.D.

After a national search, Aria Chernik, J.D., Ph.D., has been named Duke University’s inaugural Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Applied Research, reporting to the Vice Provost for Learning Innovation and Digital Education. She will start May 1. 

A faculty member at Duke University since 2008, Chernik is an Associate Professor of the Practice at the Social Science Research Institute. Her work focuses on transformative pedagogies, equity-centered design and innovation, faculty development and professional learning communities, open education and access to learning, and ethical technology and society. She has more than two decades of experience teaching and researching with K-12, undergraduate, graduate, and professional learners. She currently serves as the faculty director for the Learning Innovation Development and Research Center, a new initiative of Duke Learning Innovation and Lifetime Education (LILE). 

“Aria really honed in on this role’s emphasis not just on research, but on applied research,” said Yakut Gazi, Vice Provost for Learning Innovation and Digital Education. “Her demonstrated record of designing her research and teaching around addressing a pressing need or problem – and developing prototypes from that research to move the learning forward and share it with wider communities – shows that she is exactly the leader we need in this role. I want to extend my thanks to the search committee who led this search: Sherilynn Black, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement, and Richard Freishtat, Associate Dean for Executive Education.”

“Transformative pedagogies can change the trajectories of students’ lives,” said Chernik. “In this role, I’ll be a part of a movement to build and deepen communities of practice at Duke and beyond, for faculty who are teaching or want to be teaching in innovative ways while deepening their inquiries about the future of education.”

The AVP for Faculty Development and Applied Research serves on the executive leadership team within LILE, strategically advancing the culture of research, assessment, and analytics in teaching and learning. The role oversees LILE’s faculty development, research, evaluation, and learning analytics work and plays a critical role in efforts to continuously improve teaching and learning practices, understand impact, and inform systems change. 

“With this new position, we are committing to evidence-based teaching and learning, which we view as essential at an R-1 institution,” said Gazi. “Our faculty development and support will be intertwined with applied research in education. Our work will go beyond best practices, to bring data-informed decisions to these environments.”

Chernik holds a Ph.D. in English with a concentration in late-eighteenth and nineteenth century British literature, comparative modernist literature, and continental philosophy and aesthetics; she also holds a J.D. with concentrated studies in philosophies of justice. 


About Learning Innovation and Lifetime Education 

Duke Learning Innovation and Lifetime Education (LILE) is Duke University’s central source for teaching and learning innovation on campus and through Duke’s professional, continuing, and online education offerings. LILE’s research-driven educational consulting and market-driven lifetime learning opportunities serve all learners, from pre-college to post-career.

LILE serves Duke faculty, students, staff, alumni, and a global community of lifetime learners by working to:

  • Increase teaching and learning effectiveness through a culture of data-informed and research-driven educational innovation
  • Grow the community of Duke learners by creating in-demand educational programs and services
  • Broaden access to Duke learning opportunities for all through inclusive pathways to learn for all types of learners – anywhere, at any age
  • Be a trusted partner to our people, programs, and partners

Learn more at https://lile.duke.edu/