A veteran of nearly 35 years at New College, Dr. Charlene Callahan has played an integral part in the College's history and in the development of our academic program.

As a graduate of Michigan State University with a Ph.D. in psychology, she arrived on campus as a faculty member in 1975, just as New College transitioned from being a private college to joining Florida's state university system as a semi-autonomous honors college under the administration of the University of South Florida.

Twenty-five years later, when the Florida Legislature granted New College its independence from USF and designated the College as the state's official "Honors College for the Arts and Sciences" in 2001, Callahan was appointed as the school's first Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Following a brief return to full-time teaching for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 academic years, as well as service as the College's director of the Environmental Studies Program for 2008-2009, Dr. Callahan returned to the Provost's Office in July 2009.  

In addition to her role as New College's chief academic officer, Dr. Callahan continues to teach at least one class per year, sharing with New College students her passion for psychology and the complex relationship between human understanding and individuals' perceptions of fairness.