The Provost’s office provides vision and direction for the academic program of the College, advances the teaching and research goals of the College’s faculty, and supports ongoing professional development within a diversifying and inclusive culture.
Celia Cook-Huffman
Provost and Dean of the Faculty
Dr. Celia Cook-Huffman brings more than 35 years of experience in higher education, distinguished by her commitment to liberal arts learning, student success, faculty development, inclusive excellence, and the development of vibrant learning communities. Most recently, Dr. Cook-Huffman served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Manchester University, her alma mater, from 2020 to 2025. During her tenure, she led Manchester through a successful reaccreditation with the Higher Learning Commission and advanced several major academic initiatives. Prior to returning to Manchester, Dr. Cook-Huffman spent three decades on the faculty at Juniata College, where she also served as Associate Director of the Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. As Assistant Provost from 2015 to 2020, she guided multiple campus-wide efforts focused on student retention and success, diversity and inclusion, and the expansion of High-Impact Practices. She also directed QUEST, a partnership integrating academic affairs and student life to ensure every learner has the resources needed to thrive academically and personally.
Beyond her campus leadership, Dr. Cook-Huffman has served for more than 30 years as a consultant to public and private organizations, offering expertise in conflict transformation, change management, dispute resolution systems design, leadership development, mediation training, and gender analysis in conflict. Her consulting and training experience spans workplace, church, and educational environments.
Her research interests focus on conflict about social identity, gender and nonviolent social change. Dr. Cook-Huffman has received support from the Fulbright Program and the U.S. Embassy Program on Bicommunal Projects in Cyprus, and she has taught courses through Transcend Peace University and the Institute for Social and European Studies in Szombathely, Hungary. Her professional recognitions include the Juniata Junior Faculty Distinguished Teaching Award (1996) and the Beachley Award for Distinguished Academic Service (2010). Dr. Cook-Huffman earned her B.A. in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from Manchester College; an M.A. in Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame, where she was an International Scholars Program Fellow; and a Ph.D. from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
Peter Bradley
Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness, Strategic Planning, and Assessment
Peter Bradley joined Allegheny College in the Spring of 2023. He previously served as Director of the Honors Program at Ferris State University in Michigan, a program of about 750 students with 23 affiliated faculty. During that time he served as an approved Program Reviewer for the National Collegiate Honors Council, and was a member of the Professional Development and Assessment and Evaluation committees. Prior to his appointment at Ferris, he was Associate Professor of Philosophy at McDaniel College, another college that ‘Changes Lives’ like Allegheny, and Director of the First Year Seminar. In fact, he graduated from another ‘College that Changes Lives,’ Antioch College, in 1996. At Antioch, he used his many co-op and work-study positions to learn UNIX system administration and website creation, and served as Antioch’s first webmaster. Those experiences lead to an early career as a systems administrator in the mid-90’s dot com boom, and eventually to his academic interests in Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science.
Jennifer Dearden
Senior Associate Provost
Jennifer Dearden became the interim provost in 2024 after serving as Associate Provost since 2021 and in the Music Department since 2007. As Associate Provost, Jennifer has co-led Allegheny’s re-accreditation process with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, holds leadership roles in the FS Program and academic advising, and serves as the Provost’s representative on several College committees. As a member of the Music Department, Jennifer served as the Chair from 2019-2021, and directed the Allegheny College Civic Symphony for nine years in addition to teaching trumpet lessons, brass chamber ensembles, and numerous courses in the Music curriculum. Jennifer continues to perform throughout western Pennsylvania with the Northwest Passage Trumpet Trio, and can be heard on their debut album Expeditions. In addition to serving on the Erie Philharmonic Board of Governors, Jennifer serves on the Board of Directors for the International Trumpet Guild (ITG) and has participated in numerous performances at ITG annual conferences. Jennifer holds a DMA in Trumpet Performance from the University of North Texas, an MM from Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College.
Rachel Weir
Interim Associate Provost
Rachel Weir became the interim Associate Provost in 2024 after serving as Director of Faculty Development (DFD) since 2021. As DFD, she was a member of the Advising Leadership Team, the FS/SWS Leadership Team, the Canvas Team, and the Academic Support Committee (ex-officio). Most recently, Rachel worked with Dean of the Library Tressa Snyder to develop the new Center for Faculty Research and Teaching Excellence. Rachel is a Professor of Mathematics, having joined Allegheny College in 2004. Rachel chaired the Mathematics department from 2019 to 2021 and previously chaired Faculty Council and the Curriculum Committee and served on the Finance and Facilities Committee. Rachel has a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Michigan and a BSc (Hons) from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Rachel’s mathematical research focuses on complex analysis and function-theoretic operator theory. She is also a workshop facilitator, speaker, author, and consultant on inquiry-based learning in mathematics and alternative grading methods.
Byron Rich
Assistant Provost of Academic Innovation
Byron joined the Provost’s office in 2023 after having served in Institutional Advancement since 2021 and the Art Department since 2014. His work is focused on designing and implementing emerging strategic academic initiatives and economic development efforts. As an accomplished artist and scholar, his work exploring speculative design, biology futures, and tactical media has been widely shown and spoken about internationally in some of the world’s most prestigious art and design venues. Byron’s work is often featured in books and journals, and his writing can be found in numerous publications, including the recently released book Synthetic Becoming, edited by Lenka Vesela. He pursued a degree in new media at The University of Calgary before relocating to Buffalo, New York, where he obtained an MFA in Emerging Practices at The University at Buffalo. He was the runner-up for the 2016 BioArt & Design Award, and the recipient of an Honorary Mention at the 2017 Prix Ars Electronica. Byron is the Vice President of the Crawford County Historical Society, and on the board of directors for the NWPA NTMA.
Ariel Jordan
Assistant to the Provost
Ariel joined the Provost’s Office in 2025 after being in the publishing industry for over seven years. She has lived in the Meadville area for the past ten years. Being a “Military Brat”, the longest place she has lived before Pennsylvania has been Alaska. She has a BA in History from Clarion University and a BA in Anthropology with a minor in Linguistics from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.