Officials announced Friday that Emily Hammond, a GW Law professor and GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future official, will serve as the University’s interim vice provost for faculty affairs starting Sept. 1, returning to a position they previously held.
Hammond, a former Department of Energy official, served as vice provost for faculty affairs from 2022 to 2023, where they oversaw initiatives like the GW Academic Leadership Academy and the Technology Commercialization Office, according to the announcement. Hammond is replacing Rumana Riffat, who is now listed as the interim associate dean of academic affairs for the School of Engineering & Applied Science — temporarily filling the position after Jason Zara became the interim dean of the school in June.
It is unclear when Riffat left her position as vice provost.
Hammond said in the announcement that it’s an “honor” to return to their old position, and they are looking forward to supporting faculty and University leadership.
“I have deep faith in the dedication of our faculty to their teaching, research and service efforts, and in the special importance of universities in generating knowledge and advancing civil society,” Hammond said.
Hammond most recently served as the inaugural director of academic sustainability programs for the GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future, according to the announcement. They are no longer listed on the alliance’s website but was on there June 18, per website archives.
Their research focuses on community protests and clean energy and includes a book project on how resistance movements in Central Appalachia have shaped federal energy laws. Hammond was also awarded the Distinguished Dean Award by the 2020 and 2021 graduating classes, and they earned the Distinguished Faculty Service award by the 2018 graduating class.
Interim Provost for Academic Affairs John Lach said in the announcement that Hammond brings “deep experience” and holds a “strong commitment” to supporting faculty.
“Professor Hammond has an impressive track record of inspiring academic affairs leadership and has been a tremendous asset in their decade at GW,” he said.
Riffat’s tenure as vice provost for faculty affairs included an annual salary equity review progress report, which identified schools with possible salary outliers for officials to adjust.
Hammond first joined the University in 2014 as part of the law school and was previously the school’s senior associate dean for academic affairs.
