Nicole Hess-Escalante(Leavenworth, Kansas) – The University of Saint Mary has named Nicole Hess-Escalante as the new provost and vice president for academic affairs. Hess-Escalante formerly served as USM’s associate vice president for academics.

 
In her new role, Hess-Escalante will be responsible for leading academic programs and overseeing all forms of curricular activities through strategic planning and curriculum development.
 
She first began at the university in 2015 as an assistant professor, before beginning roles as a program director of business administration, associate professor of business administration, and division chair for business and information technologies. Through these roles, Hess-Escalante has helped develop new courses, concentrations, and programs.
 
In her time at USM, she has also participated on a variety of committees and led community service projects, including serving on the CARE Team, serving as the secretary and treasurer of the Faculty Development Committee, and serving as the chair for the General Education Committee. Her commitment to the betterment of USM awarded her the Saint Mary Way Award in 2025, in recognition of her student-focused service.
 
“The USM community is one-of-a-kind in how members of this community continually support and uplift one another,” Hess-Escalante said. “I am honored and excited to further serve the faculty, staff, and students of Saint Mary, as well as our community partners.”
 
Hess-Escalante holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Baker University, a Master of Science in Organization Development Psychology from Avila University, and a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
 
“Dr. Hess-Escalante has earned the respect of colleagues across the university through her integrity, innovation, and servant leadership,” said University President Ann Marie Fallon. “As we continue to strengthen our academic programs and expand opportunities for our students, her experience and dedication will be invaluable in guiding the university's academic future.”
The University of Saint Mary is a Catholic co-educational applied liberal arts university founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. The University of Saint Mary main campus is located at 4100 South 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kan. USM-Johnson County, at 11221 Roe Ave., offers evening accelerated graduate and undergraduate degree-completion programs. The university also offers online programs. Visit stmary.edu for more information.