Dr. Diane Stearns, Ph.D.

Dr. Stearns holds a B.A. degree in Chemistry from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.

She carried out research in the Department of Chemistry at Dartmouth College as an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow before joining the faculty in Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University. She remained on the faculty for 18 years before entering the administration as Associate Vice President for Research. She spearheaded the creation of NAU College of Engineering, Informatics and Applied Sciences, serving as the Interim Dean of the college before becoming Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

She joined Tarleton State University as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs in 2022, where she serves as the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) of the University, promoting collaborative shared governance, and providing leadership in the planning, coordination, and administration of Academic Affairs at the University. This includes the oversight, evaluation and leadership of the Deans of the seven academic colleges as well as the College of Graduate Studies and chairing the Academic Council