Philosophy alumna Katherine Galvin is the new Director of Programs for the Big Ten Academic Alliance, effective January 3, 2017.

In her new role, Galvin leads a team of professionals in support of programs such as the fiber-optic network linking member campuses; the acclaimed Academic Leadership Program; and large-scale research collaborations in traumatic brain injury and health equity. In addition, she will work with leaders at the highest levels of the Big Ten universities including deans, vice presidents, chief information officers, and other senior officers.  

“I am very happy to have this opportunity to serve the incredible institutions of the Big Ten,” Galvin said. “The Big Ten Academic Alliance is a national leader among academic consortia. I am honored to be joining the Big Ten Academic Alliance and know that the work will be tremendously gratifying.”

A 2015-16 Academic Leadership Program (ALP) Fellow, Galvin previously was an Associate Chancellor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she served in the Chancellor’s Office, Provost’s Office, and Office of University Counsel. Her duties included providing oversight and guidance to a number of administrative units and acting as the liaison to the Board of Trustees and the Academic Senate. 

My professors challenged me to think more deeply and critically and helped me to grow as a person and as a scholar.

Prior to joining the Chancellor’s Office, she was in the Provost’s Office for six years, first as an Assistant Provost and then as the Associate Provost for Administrative Affairs. She began her career at the University of Illinois in 2007 as an Associate University Counsel. Before coming to the University of Illinois, Galvin served as a Senior Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan and also was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of North Carolina.

She has a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.A. in Philosophy from Michigan State University.  

“My years at Michigan State were truly transformative ones for me. My professors challenged me to think more deeply and critically and helped me to grow as a person and as a scholar,” Galvin said. “One of my very favorite professors was Professor Martin Benjamin. I remember with fondness his infectious interest and enjoyment in discussing ethical debates about the problem of evil and the meaning of life. Thanks to Professor Benjamin, The Brothers Karamazov remains my favorite novel to this day! I credit much of my professional success to the skills and education that I obtained while at MSU.”