WHO’s WHO @VCU: Meet Stephen Gottfredson

Stephen Gottfredson, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said an administrative job was not what he had intended to do in life.

“It sort of just happened,” he said. “It wasn’t something I had designs on.” Administrative work, however, is in his blood. His father, Don Gottfredson, was the founding dean of the School of Criminal Justice at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Two of his four brothers are university faculty as well. Gary is a professor at the University of Maryland and Michael is executive vice chancellor at University of California, Irvine.

After earning a doctorate in psychology at Johns Hopkins University, Gottfredson began his career as a part-time instructor at Towson University. Along the way, he made stops at Johns Hopkins, Temple University in Philadelphia and Indiana University. In 1997 he came to VCU as dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences, and was named provost in April 2005.

Now, Gottfredson oversees many facets of the university, including deans, libraries, student services, enrollment services and financial aid.

“I did recognize several years ago.that I was getting more pleasure out of helping other people to achieve their goals than I was getting out of achieving my own,” he said. “I was having more fun helping a young faculty member write a research proposal.than doing it myself. And I think that’s the right attitude for an administrator.”

Joseph Marolla, acting vice provost for instruction, said Gottfredson has the right approach.

“Dr. Gottfredson sort of epitomizes Theodore Roosevelt’s advice: ‘Speak softly and carry a big stick,’ ” Marolla said.