Tracy Y. Espy

Tracy Y. Espy serves as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Pfeiffer University (2008-Present). Pfeiffer University operates three campuses in Charlotte, Raleigh and Misenheimer, North Carolina. In her role as Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Espy oversees all academic programs, including four divisions (Applied Health Sciences, Business, Arts and Sciences, and Education); the Division of Adult Studies and Continuing Education; Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment; Office of Teaching, Leaning and Innovation; and the Gustavus Adolphus Library. Additionally, Dr. Espy is actively involved in various aspects of university administration, such as enrollment management, strategic planning and fund raising.

As Provost, Dr. Espy in collaborative partnership with the Academic Leadership Team, added several new programs (traditional, nontraditional and graduate). She realigned seven academic divisions to four, resulting in 13% cost savings for the University.

Leveraging over 23 years of higher education experience, with 15 years as a senior administrator, Dr. Espy, in partnership with faculty, students, and staff, successfully earned six key University accreditations, along with the development and start of 10 new academic programs.

Prior to her current role as Provost, Dr. Espy served as Vice President for Servant Leadership where she was responsible for oversight of the Francis Center for Servant Leadership and student leadership groups. She established over 100 community partnerships and led University-wide servant-leadership initiatives. Pfeiffer University also received Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation, as well as the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll under her guidance.

Dr. Espy received a Ph.D. in Child/Family-Marriage and Family Therapy from Syracuse University, a M.S. in Family Studies from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and a B.A. from Berea College, Berea, Kentucky. Her teaching and research expertise include systemic theory, ethnic identity and self-esteem, servant leadership, service-learning, and student engagement. Community and professional activities include Founding Editor of Partnerships: A Journal of Service-Learning and Civic Engagement (2008-2012), and service to several local and regional non-profit organizations, including North Carolina Campus Compact, Hope Worldwide and City at Peace-Charlotte. Most recently, Dr. Espy’s service extended to the Board of Montford Park Partners; grant reviewer for Council of Independent Colleges-Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (Nerve) Program; and serving as a panelist with the Charlotte Business Journal on Diversity and Equity in the Workplace.

Dr. Espy believes in life-long learning. She participated in the Executive Leadership Academy with the Council of Independent Colleges and Universities; the American Association of State Colleges and Universities; the American Leadership Academy; and the Presidential Vocation and Institutional Mission Program with the Council of Independent Colleges.

In April 2019, Dr. Espy received the national Zenobia L. Hikes Faculty Women of Color Award at Virginia Tech University. The award honored her accomplishment of her work to improve faculty salaries and institutional diversity at Pfeiffer University.