Sylvia Maxfield, Ph.D.

Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Sylvia Maxfield, Ph.D., was appointed interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs in September 2024. She joined the Providence College community as dean of the School of Business (PCSB) in 2012 after a distinguished career in higher education – at Simmons College and Yale University – and on Wall Street. During her time at the PCSB, she was integral in building a physical home for the school – the state-of-the-art Ryan Center for Business Studies – and a robust framework for strategically improving the PCSB.

Under Dr. Maxfield’s leadership, the PCSB developed innovative programs that defined the student experience, including the Ethics in Business Education program, the Friar Leadership & Immersion program, new career tracks, and an increased focus on applied and theoretical analytical skills. In addition, the PCSB saw greater participation in regional and national competitions; more local, national, and international internships; a doubling of student-led business clubs; and an increase in undergraduate fellowships.

Since her arrival at PC, a key focus for Dr. Maxfield has been better leveraging the passionate commitment of the Friar Family – our dedicated alumni. The engagement groups she founded help inform faculty of current industry challenges, pave paths for student internships and employment, and create numerous opportunities for mentoring, networking, and career exploration. 

Dr. Maxfield is a thought-leader in the intersection of finance and society by exploring how, when, and why financial markets and institutions serve the public interest. She expounds on this interest through research and scholarly writing on the topic, as well as by translating her research for non-academic audiences. In addition, she serves as a board member for the State Investment Commission of Rhode Island and for Berkshire Bank.

Dr. Maxfield is a graduate of Cornell’s School of Arts and Sciences and earned her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at Harvard University. She is fluent in Spanish and has lived or worked in virtually every country in Central and South America. Maxfield and her husband have three adult children and divide their time between Boston, Mass., and Jamestown, R.I.