Jane Gatewood

Vice Provost for Global Engagement

Dr. Jane Gatewood is a distinguished global leader, currently serving as the inaugural Vice Provost for Global Engagement at the University of Rochester. With over 17 years of international experience at the intersection of business, higher education, and government and diplomatic relations, Dr. Gatewood’s unwavering passion is evident in her development of comprehensive global engagement structures and cultivation of bi- and multilateral international research partnerships, education mobility, and economic development.

As a Fulbright-Nehru scholar in India, an Andrew W. Mellon Fellow at the University of London’s School of Advanced Study, and an instructor at the Middlebury Institute for International Studies, Dr. Gatewood has consistently demonstrated a commitment to international education. Her editorial role in the Oxford English Dictionary and recent editing of NAFSA’s Guide to International Partnerships (2020) underscore her dedication to shaping discourse on global collaboration. Her commitment extends even further through leadership roles in NAFSA and a position on the Board of Directors for AIEA. As a testament to her expertise, she has been sought out to serve on in-country consulting and assessment teams for NGOs focused on civil society and educational development, and has been invited by foreign ministries and governments focused on educational capacity building, as well as by the U.S. Department of State, on programs that foster bi-national educational development and mutual understanding.

At the University of Georgia, Jane was instrumental in creating an International Partnership Unit—one of the first in the US and a model for other institutions—from conception through implementation and ongoing operational leadership. At the time, many U.S.-based international offices focused primarily on international services and education abroad, and Jane’s innovative approach has helped to change the landscape by placing dedicated emphasis on building international partnerships and understanding the intricacies of diplomacy. She is now well-known for her expertise in International Partnership Development in higher education, an area which focuses on establishing robust relationships between entities in different countries and with diplomatic communities. This is a newly recognized and vital aspect of international education.

A candidate in the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School Executive Leadership Program, Dr. Gatewood’s transformative leadership has been evident in her role as Vice Provost for Global Engagement at the University of Rochester since October 2016. Over the course of seven years, she has orchestrated the strategic transformation and growth of a department spanning three units, overseeing large cross-functional teams with a global footprint. Dr. Gatewood’s data-driven, risk management-focused approach has spurred significant changes in the University of Rochester’s global engagement strategy. With a keen eye for identifying global trends and assessing institutional risk, Dr. Gatewood has spearheaded vital strategies for the recruitment of international students, expanding markets with a particular focus on Southeast Asia. Her efforts have substantially improved the university’s world rankings. In addition, her strategic foresight proved crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she not only led the university’s strategic response but also co-chaired the emergency operations team in the pursuit of academic excellence on a global scale.

Dr. Gatewood’s diplomatic, communicative, and strategic leadership skills are complemented by her proficiency in partnership development, business case development, fundraising, and risk management. Her impact extends beyond the University of Rochester and is leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of international higher education. Dr. Gatewood holds a Ph.D. in English Language and Literature from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor’s degree from Emory University.