Brad Thiessen joined Florida Polytechnic University as Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs in July 2024. An accomplished academic leader, Thiessen has significantly contributed to accreditation, institutional effectiveness, academic administration, and university leadership. With over 20 years of experience as an administrator and faculty member, he has held numerous roles over the past eight years at New College of Florida, including Vice Provost, Interim President, Interim Provost, Interim VP for Student Affairs, Chief of Staff, Director of Institutional Performance Assessment, and Institutional Accreditation Liaison. He also served as a Professor of Statistics at New College during this period. 

Before his tenure at New College, Thiessen served for ten years as Chair and Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at St. Ambrose University. He also held the position of Director of Institutional Research at the University of Hawaii and served as Director of Institutional Research, Assessment, and Strategic Planning, as well as Associate Professor of Education, at Truro University California. 

Thiessen is a PStat Accredited Professional Statistician with the American Statistical Association, reflecting his deep expertise in statistics through formal education, work experience, and ongoing professional development.  

He earned a doctorate and master's degrees in Educational Measurement & Statistics from the University of Iowa, along with a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Secondary Education from St. Ambrose University.