University Of Alabama Names Lesley Reid As Next Provost

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Alabama on Tuesday named veteran administrator and criminologist Lesley Reid as the institution’s next provost.

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The hire follows a national search and elevates the longtime academic administrator after she spent the past several months serving in the role on an interim basis.

UA President Peter J. Mohler praised Reid's leadership during her tenure serving as interim provost since November 2025.

“Dr. Lesley Reid is a highly respected academic leader who brings to this role a deep understanding of The University of Alabama, our faculty and our academic mission,” Mohler said. “Throughout her time as interim provost, she has led with thoughtfulness, integrity and a strong commitment to shared governance and open communication, empowering faculty and engaging with students.”

As provost, Reid will serve as the university’s chief academic officer and a member of UA’s executive leadership team.

University officials said she will oversee efforts tied to teaching, research, student success and collaboration across academic units while helping guide strategic growth initiatives.

“I am honored to serve The University of Alabama as provost and excited for the work ahead,” Reid said. “With President Mohler, our deans, faculty, staff and students, I look forward to building on UA’s momentum and advancing a future-focused academic mission that expands opportunity, drives discovery and strengthens our impact across Alabama and beyond.”

Before becoming interim provost, Reid held several leadership positions at the university, including senior associate provost for academic and administrative affairs and associate provost for faculty affairs.

She also served as interim dean of UA’s School of Social Work from 2019 to 2021.

A criminologist by training, Reid’s research has focused on how places such as neighborhoods and correctional institutions influence crime and victimization risk.

University officials said her work has been supported by multiple National Science Foundation grants and included a nearly $2 million study conducted for the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Reid's research on long-term crime trends in communities across the United States has also been featured in national and international media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Atlantic, the BBC and Scientific American.

UA said the national search process included participation from faculty, staff and students, and was led by Capstone College of Nursing Dean Julie Sanford and College of Human Environmental Sciences Dean Stuart Usdan.

The committee also included UA System representative Tonjanita Johnson and Trustee Steven Roy.

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