McAllister named Provost and VP of Academic Affairs at Centre

Centre College President Milton C. Moreland announced this week that Alex McAllister has been named Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs following a national search.

McAllister is a longtime member of the Centre faculty and has filled the role of Dean of the College an interim basis over the past year. He previously served as Associate Dean of the College for six years.

“Centre College has long been known for its engaged and dedicated faculty — attributes that Alex exemplifies,” Moreland said. “He is an educator who has built his career on thoughtful and caring leadership while staying true to the guiding principles upon which our institution is built.”

McAllister joined Centre College as Assistant Professor of Mathematics in 1999 and has served in a number of leadership roles during his tenure, including program chair, division chair, associate dean and interim dean.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to continue helping shape the future of Centre College, my professional home for the past 27 years,” said McAllister. “As a professor, administrator, and Centre parent, I know what a special place this is, and have seen the transformational role it plays for students. I’m excited to have a hand in continuing this amazing legacy.”

Since joining the Office of Academic Affairs in 2019, McAllister has served on the College’s Senior Leadership Team, contributed to strategic planning and supported academic innovation and career readiness. He has served as a mentor to students and fellow faculty members and been a staunch supporter of student well-being and belonging. He also led an effort to realign faculty salaries with a focus on equity and long-term sustainability, ensuring that Centre can continue to attract, support, and retain outstanding faculty scholars and artists.

“Alex has demonstrated a clear ability to listen carefully, build consensus, and move the College forward,” said Moreland. “As provost, Alex will strengthen Centre's academic identity, champion faculty excellence, and advance student success and retention. His leadership will help us build on Centre’s distinctive liberal arts foundation, where students develop durable skills — critical thinking, communication, adaptability, and ethical reasoning — that prepare them to thrive in a workforce being rapidly reshaped by artificial intelligence.”

McAllister earned his doctorate in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame after completing his bachelor’s degree at Virginia Tech. Prior to joining Centre, he taught at Dartmouth College. He has co-authored two textbooks, and his articles have been published in the Archive for Mathematical Logic, the Journal of Symbolic Logic and the Mathematical Logic Quarterly.

At Centre, he has taught courses in mathematics, computer science, humanities, and philosophy. McAllister was awarded the H.W. Stodghill Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professorship in 2015, is a two-time Centre Scholar and a recipient of the Kirk Teaching Award for teaching excellence.

“Centre College is perfectly positioned to meet the challenges of today’s rapidly evolving higher education landscape,” McAllister said. “I’m proud of the work I’ve done here in my career, and excited for the work that is ahead of us. Centre is a national leader in preparing students to live lives of learning, leadership and service. I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to build on that legacy.”