Lisa Springer

Dean of the Division of Lifelong and Professional Studies and Associate Provost for Continuing and Digital Learning

Email: lispringer@jtsa.edu

Dr. Lisa Springer serves as Dean of the Division of Lifelong and Professional Studies (DLPS) and Associate Provost for Continuing and Digital Learning. In this role, she leads efforts to expand and innovate JTS’s education for learners at all life stages—whether they seek personal enrichment, professional development, or leadership opportunities. Through DLPS, she oversees programs that extend JTS’s world-class scholarship beyond traditional degree programs, making the institution’s learning more accessible, flexible, and relevant to today’s world. 

Dr. Springer collaborates with JTS leadership, faculty, and communities to drive educational innovation, strengthen the Jewish leadership pipeline, and connect theory with practice through hands-on learning experiences. Under her leadership, DLPS encompasses the Center for Lifelong Learning, the Center for Pastoral Education, and the MFA in Creative Writing, among other initiatives that bring JTS’s expertise to new and diverse audiences. 

Prior to joining JTS, Dr. Springer served as Provost of LIM College. While at LIM, she led curricular changes to highlight flexibility, relevance, and inclusion; worked to ensure faculty had a central voice in the development of online courses and programs; and launched a two-year completion degree program for transfer students, among many initiatives. She is most proud of the culture of collaboration and innovation she helped foster at the institution.   

Previously, at the NYU School of Professional Studies, Dr. Springer served as Associate Dean for Global and Strategic Initiatives and Associate Dean for the Division of Languages and Humanities, as well as in other capacities. She led the launch of executive and training programs in Tokyo and Shanghai as well as the creation of programs for international high school students and a new master’s degree. Dr. Springer also held a leadership role in the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program and the NYU Abu Dhabi Summer Academy. In this program, as in all of her work, Dr. Springer was motivated to create an engaging educational program that melded academic with co-curricular activities and had a transformative impact on students.   

Dr. Springer’s doctoral research focuses on faculty engagement in online education, emphasizing the importance of autonomy and institutional support in adopting new learning modalities. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Barnard College, an M.F.A. in Fiction Writing from Warren Wilson College, and an Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation from New York University.