Yvonne “Bonnie” Maldonado, the Taube Professor of Global Health and Infectious Diseases in the School of Medicine, has been appointed vice provost for faculty advancement starting in the new year. As VPFA, Maldonado will oversee programs and policies that support the recruitment, development, and success of Stanford’s faculty, lecturers, and other teaching staff.

“Stanford is fortunate that Bonnie has agreed to take on this role,” said Provost Jenny Martinez. “Our amazing faculty are central to the university’s teaching and research excellence. Bonnie knows firsthand what it takes to thrive here, and she has spent more than a decade creating communities and networks of support that enable others at the School of Medicine to do the same. Now, faculty across campus will benefit from her deep investment in their success as scholars and as people.”

Maldonado assumes the role of VPFA from Matt Snipp, the Burnet C. and Mildred Finley Wohlford Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences, who has led the office since 2019. Under his leadership, VPFA developed skill-building and career-development workshops and invested in programming to drive engagement. “It has been incredibly rewarding,” said Snipp, “to help faculty and staff from all across the university stay connected to our common mission. While I look forward to returning my attention more fully to my own teaching and research, I am grateful to the talented VPFA team and confident the office is in excellent hands.”

Snipp also oversaw the creation of the Provostial Fellows program, bringing talented early-career scholars to Stanford – a number of whom have since joined the faculty. “Matt’s vision and thoughtfulness have made a difference in the lives of countless faculty members and shaped a new generation of scholars here at Stanford,” said Martinez. “He has been an extraordinarily dedicated university citizen, staying beyond his five-year term and simultaneously stepping in to serve as interim Vice Provost for Student Affairs in 2024. I am grateful for Matt’s leadership and his willingness to stay engaged in this important work.”

VPFA takes a comprehensive approach to fostering engagement, growth, and career satisfaction that spans the entirety of faculty careers – from recruitment through appointment, advancement, and ultimately transition to emeriti status. In keeping with that wraparound support, it will also now include the Office of Faculty and Staff Housing, which plays a key part in the university’s recruitment and retention of top talent in the Bay Area’s competitive housing market. Mark Rutheiser, who formerly led real estate services at UC Davis, joined the office as executive director earlier this year and will work closely with Maldonado.

As a professor of pediatrics and of epidemiology and population health, Maldonado brings a developmental lens to her new role. “I’m always thinking about what we can do early on that will help people throughout their lives – and the life of their careers,” she said. “When we connect faculty at different stages of their careers, they can serve as mentors and role models for one another. Facilitating those relationships is really important and rewarding.”

Maldonado, who came to Stanford for medical school and has spent her entire faculty career at the university, knows this firsthand. She cites the mentorship of Dr. Ann Arvin, who first invested in her as a student, then recruited her to the Stanford faculty and served as her division chief in the Department of Pediatrics, as a major influence. In addition, former Emeriti Council Chair Iris Litt was one of the first professors Maldonado met as a medical student, and their enduring relationship has deepened her appreciation for the emeriti community as an asset and a resource for all faculty.

Today, colleagues praise Maldonado as a talented researcher, educator, and clinician and a dedicated mentor in her own right. For the past 11 years, she has served as senior associate dean for faculty development and engagement in the School of Medicine, where she has built community and developed resources for faculty at every stage of their careers. She describes herself as a collaborative leader and credits the partnership of Magali Fassiotto, who will be joining her in the VPFA office.

“Together, Bonnie and Magali have transformed professional development at the School of Medicine,” said Dean Lloyd Minor. “Through innovative programming, they have empowered our faculty and teaching staff along their career journeys and enhanced engagement. I’m delighted that they will expand these initiatives university-wide and continue finding new ways to foster a stronger, more engaged faculty.”

Maldonado emphasized that as VPFA, she will take a whole-of-campus approach. “I look forward to talking – and listening – to my colleagues across all seven schools,” she said. “I’m eager to understand their priorities and how we can best support their development and advancement.”

This philosophy stems from her work in public health. From researching HIV/AIDS in pregnant women with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conducting clinical field trials in Zimbabwe and across sub-Saharan Africa, she has always led by listening. “I’ve found that people often have a really good sense of their own needs,” said Maldonado. “It’s important for them to be involved in co-creating the systems and solutions that benefit them.”

During COVID-19, Maldonado drew on her expertise as an epidemiologist to lead university-wide task forces, working with partners all across campus to guide Stanford’s pandemic response. More recently, she co-led the university’s presidential search, engaging with faculty and other members of the Stanford community to hear about their concerns and priorities. In June, she received the Kenneth M. Cuthbertson Award, recognizing extraordinary contributions to the achievements of university goals.

“I’m excited for this opportunity to continue supporting my talented colleagues,” said Maldonado. “We have such a treasure trove of energy and expertise here at Stanford. Investing in our people and connecting them to one another supports growth and discovery throughout their careers.”