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, 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.
Rachel Weir
Associate Provost, Professor of Mathematics
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.
Ian Binnington
Associate Provost, Professor of History and Black Studies
Ian Binnington oversees the Maytum Center for Academic Success and the Class Deans. These areas provide holistic, integrated, and student-centered academic advising and support, and 360° support for students. He also provides leadership support for student retention efforts, to the Allegheny Bound Orientation and Transition Program for new, first-year and transfer students, the Gator Success Grants program, and the student Honor Code. Within the Office of the Provost, Ian oversees Global Education, part-time faculty, the Advising Leadership Team, and course scheduling and enrollments. He has served as College Registrar and Dean of Curriculum, Dean for Student Success, and Dean for the Student Experience. Ian came to Allegheny in 2006 after completing his Ph.D. in History at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and after four years teaching at Eastern Illinois University. He has taught in the Departments of History and Black Studies since 2006, chaired Black Studies from 2012 to 2016. His teaching interests include nineteenth century American history, the American Civil War, and African-American history. He has published on the history of Confederate nationalism and on role-immersion play into college classrooms. He has served on the Academic Standards and Awards Committee, the Curriculum Committee, the Diversity and Gender Equity Committee, the Campus Life and Community Standards Committee, and Faculty Council.
Byron Rich
Executive Director, ALIC @ Bessemer
Byron Rich 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.
Sufana Chowdhury
Assistant to the Provost
Sufana Chowdhury joined Allegheny at the offices of Student Life, Financial Aid and then as an Academic Building Coordinator. She has served on various college committees including Staff Advisory, Student Enrichment, and Finance and Facilities. She is a member of the Conduct Honor Board and a trained Sustained Dialogue Moderator. Prior to Allegheny, she worked in legal, government, and health organizations. She holds an M.Sc. in Instructional Design and credentials in business compliance and human resources. As a long-time northwest PA resident, she has been a community organizer for city commissions, economic and cultural non-profits and regional grant panels.
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