Joanna Gregson, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President for University Strategy & Effectiveness
Email: provost@plu.edu
- Professional
- Biography
Additional Titles/Roles
- Professor of Sociology
Education
- Ph.D., Sociology, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1998
- B.A., Sociology, Western Washington University, 1993
Areas of Emphasis or Expertise
- Research Methods
- Deviance / Criminology
- Sex and Gender
- Family
Books
- Culture of Teenage Mothers ( State University of New York Press 2010 2010) : View Book
Biography
Joanna Gregson, Ph.D., serves as the Executive Vice President of University Strategy and Effectiveness at Pacific Lutheran University. Drawing on nearly three decades of dedicated service as both a classroom educator and senior administrator at PLU, she oversees the overarching strategic direction, institutional growth, and external engagement for the university.
To proactively navigate the evolving higher-education landscape, Dr. Gregson leads a division that unifies Admission, Financial Aid, Athletics, and Marketing & Communications with Advancement, Alumni & Student Connections, Sponsored Programs, and Institutional Research. Grounded in her background as a sociologist, her leadership leverages data-informed insights and deep stakeholder engagement to align university resources with institutional mission and effectiveness. Prior to this appointment, she served for nine years as PLU’s Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and 19 years as a faculty member in PLU’s Department of Sociology. In these roles, she established a strong legacy of cross-constituent collaboration, strategic institutional planning, and deep familiarity with the university’s distinctive academic programs.
Dr. Gregson earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Western Washington University and her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder.