Meet the Provost

Biography

Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig serves as the 24th provost and vice president for academic affairs at Western Michigan University, marking a significant milestone as the first Underrepresented Minority (URM) in the role. His expertise in ex executive leadership is anchored in his experience across seven academic leadership roles. He has focused on elevating institutional prestige, engaging in collaborative strategic actions and rapidly delivering results in enrollment, student success and diversity initiatives. 

Provost Vasquez Heilig's research and practice has been primarily focused on K-12 education curriculum, policy and leadership that impacts equity and innovation. A prolific scholar, he has authored more than 70 publications and spoken at hundreds of events — including more than 30 universities and in eight countries. For almost a decade, he has been ranked among the top 200 (0.1%) education scholars in the nation by Edweek.

He has conveyed invited testimony for state and national legislative bodies and the United Nations. He also has served as a volunteer education policy advisor for presidential and gubernatorial campaigns.

Provost Vasquez Heilig has volunteered expertise and served in advisory roles for higher education, government, schools, foundations, civil rights organizations and community advocacy non-profit organizations. He has served on the executive committee and as education chair for both the Kentucy and California Hawai'i NAACP.

He has been honored with more than 30 teaching, research and service recognitions including Diversity in Education Magazine Multicultural Champion for 2015, and the passage of California Assembly Resolution 1459 in 2019, which commended his state and national impact. He was comissioned by Governor Andy Beshear as a Kentucky Colonel in 2022.

Provost Vasquez Heilig's work has been cited by the New York Times, L.A. Times, Washington Post, Associated Press, USAToday, Education Week and other print and electronic media outlets. He has appeared to discuss his research on local and national radio and TV including Al Jazeera, ABC, Fox, CBS, PBS, NBC, NPR, Univision and MSNBC.

Provost Vasquez Heilig received his Ph.D. in educational administration and policy analysis and a master’s degree in sociology from Stanford University. He also earned a master’s in higher education and a bachelor’s degree in history and psychology from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor.