Dr. Steele was appointed Provost in June 2021. In this role, he serves as the senior academic officer of the College and has administrative responsibility for planning, coordinating, and evaluating the educational programs of the College; for the oversight and integrations of all educational support offices and outreach services; and in collaboration with the Dean of Faculty, for the recruitment, hiring, and professional development of the faculty. The Provost reports to the President, serves as a key member of the senior administrative team and as an integral part of the institution’s decision-making process. In the absence of the President, the Provost acts as the senor administrative officer of the College.

Since initially being appointed Dean of Curriculum and Student Success in 2011, Dr. Steele has held several administrative appointments at Berea College. In such positions, Dr. Steele worked directly with faculty and staff to ensure excellence in the General Education and Advising programs. Prior to his administrative appointment, Dr. Steele taught for eight years in the Economics and Business Department at Berea College and from 1997 to 2001 in the Department of Economics at the National University Ireland, Galway.

Dr. Steele’s educational background is in philosophy and environmental economics. After obtaining a B.A. and M.A. in philosophy and environmental ethics from Texas Christian University and Texas A & M respectively, Dr. Steele received an M.S. in agricultural economics from Texas A & M and a Ph.D. in agricultural and applied economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Steele’s research interests are varied with a primary focus on environmental and resource economics. Most recently he has been recently pursuing work on the application of organizational economics in the field of agri-environmental economics. In the past, he has pursued work in feminist economics, economic education, and has investigated gender-based differences in environmental attitudes and behavior.