As Executive Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, William Bernhard provides leadership in the areas of academic and faculty affairs. His portfolio includes faculty development, the Provost Fellows program, human resources, academic awards, and assessment. Dr. Bernhard is also Interim Associate Chancellor and Vice Provost for Budget and Resource Planning, providing strategic budget planning and allocation advice to the Chancellor and Provost, guidance to the university in areas related to budget, finance, planning and resource allocation, leadership and management of the campus budget office.

Dr. Bernhard holds a B.A. in government from Cornell University, and an M.A. and Ph.D in political science from Duke University. His most recent book, Legislative Style (University of Chicago Press, 2018), investigates how members of Congress allocate their time and effort across different activities. His research examines the strategic choices of political actors, including how parties manage candidate nominations, and how the potential for immigration across borders shapes foreign policy choices. His work has been recognized with several best paper awards, including the 2015 Patrick J. Fett Award and the 2014 Jewell-Lowenberg Award.

Dr. Bernhard served as the Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost from August 2022 through July 2023 and as Associate Provost for Faculty Development from January 2015 through May 2017. He served as Interim Executive Associate Dean for the College of Media from May 2016 through May 2017, when he was appointed Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. Prior to joining the Provost’s Office, he served as head of the Department of Political Science (2007-15). In 2014-15, he was an associate in the Center for Advanced Study.