Office of the Provost

Dr. Chelly Templeton serves as the Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Palm Beach Atlantic University. The Provost and Chief Academic Officer oversees and leads the development, implementation, and assessment of academic programs and policies.

Provost Dr. Chelly Templeton

Dr. Chelly Templeton, dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Studies, became provost, effective July 1.

Prior to coming to PBA in 1999, Templeton worked in public school education as a teacher and administrator and received an Eli Lilly Corporation fellowship to study in England. She presented scholarly work at the American Education and Research Association in Leiden, Netherlands. Templeton earned her bachelor’s degree from University of Kentucky, master’s degree from Marshall University and Doctor of Education from Florida Atlantic University.

Templeton led PBA’s task force overseeing the “God-Sized Dreams” strategic plan and has been a valued member of PBA’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) assessment team, which focuses on improving students’ writing and critical thinking. She led the effort to attain Association of Christian Schools International accreditation. She co-designed and implemented a two-semester student teaching experience in which early elementary education majors teach at local and international Christian schools.

As dean, she has overseen programming such as K-12 teacher education, graduate mental health counseling, and the rapidly-growing exercise science degree. She is uniquely qualified to ensure the effective rollout of new majors developed by retiring Provost Dr. Randy Richards. 

She served on the board of the YWCA and Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches. She is married to Gary Templeton, who served in ministry for 30 years. They are parents to three grown children and have two grandchildren.