UA is close to naming its next provost, with three finalists set to visit campus over the next month.
Consistent with University rules and the Akron-AAUP contract, the candidates will meet individually with several campus constituencies:
- the Board of Trustees;
- the Council of Deans;
- the vice presidents;
- representatives from Faculty Senate and Akron-AAUP;
- student groups; and
- members of the community.
President Luis Proenza will listen to recommendations from the campus groups, confer with the University's Board of Trustees and recommend to the Board a candidate for appointment.
The three finalists are:
- Dr. Antonio R. Moreira, vice provost for academic affairs, University of Maryland Baltimore County
- Dr. Larry A. Nielsen, professor of natural resources, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University
- Dr. William M. (Mike) Sherman, vice provost for academic planning, The Ohio State University
As the University's top academic officer, the provost reports to the president and leads the campus-wide effort to improve the quality of academic life on campus. Reporting to the provost are the deans of UA's 14 schools and colleges. The provost and his or her team also coordinate academic offerings, accreditation reviews, faculty recruitment and retention, and student success initiatives, among other responsibilities.
In addition, the provost at UA carries the additional titles of senior vice president and chief operating officer, with responsibility over a number of functional areas, including Student Affairs and Information Technology Services.
More about each of the candidates:
Candidate: Dr. Antonio R. Moreira
Dr. Antonio R. Moreira
Current post: Vice provost for academic affairs, University of Maryland Baltimore County. As vice provost, Moreira is responsible for academic affairs matters within the Provost's Office. Additionally, the following units/individuals report to him: Library and Gallery, The Hilltop Institute, Interdisciplinary Studies Program, International Education Services, Office of Institutional Research and the assistant vice provost for academic affairs. He is a member of the President's Council, the Council of Deans, and chairs the campus IT Steering Committee, the Classroom Committee and the Blue Ribbon Committee on the Library. He is also responsible for International Programs and led the development of the University Diversity Plan.
Previous positions include:
- Associate provost for academic affairs, University of Maryland Baltimore County
- Associate dean of engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County
- Chair and professor, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County
Academic degrees: Ph.D. in chemical and biochemical engineering, University of Pennsylvania; master's of science in chemical and biochemical engineering, University of Pennsylvania; bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, University of Oporto, Portugal.
Date of campus visit: Jan. 31 to Feb. 2
CV: Download.
Candidate: Dr. Larry A. Nielsen
Dr. Larry A. Nielsen
Current post: Professor of natural resources, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University.
Previous positions include:
- Provost and executive vice chancellor, North Carolina State University. Served as the chief academic officer for the university, which has 10 colleges, a division of undergraduate academic programs, the graduate school, enrolls 32,800 students and employs over 1900 faculty members. Worked with the chancellor, executive officers, and deans to administer and facilitate effective, efficient and high quality programs and program-delivery at every level of the university.
Nielsen stepped down as provost and executive vice chancellor last May, amid a political controversy involving the former state governor. According to Nielsen, four years earlier and while still interim provost, Nielsen had hired the first lady, then a law-school faculty member at another University of North Carolina institution, to create and run a university-level speakers' series that experienced great success over the intervening years. However, after the end of the governor's term, a local newspaper published a wide ranging set of allegations regarding the former governor that also included questions about the hiring of the first lady. Nielsen said he resigned to quell the controversy and to shelter his family from unwarranted media coverage. He cooperated fully with authorities investigating the matter, and the inquiry as it related to Nielsen is closed. - Dean, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University
- Director and professor of natural resources, School of Forest Resources, The Pennsylvania State University.
Academic degrees: Ph.D. in fisheries biology (minor fields were ecology and aquatic science), Cornell University; master's of science in fisheries biology from the University of Missouri; bachelor's degree in honors biology from the University of Illinois.
Dates of campus visit: Feb. 7-9
CV: Download.
Candidate: Dr. William M. (Mike) Sherman
Dr. William M. (Mike) Sherman
Current post: Vice provost for academic planning, The Ohio State University. Responsible for integrated strategic planning as it relates to budget and space issues; serves on the University Senate Fiscal Committee, the Governmental Affairs Committee and the Council on the Physical Environment; provides leadership and guidance to the University Libraries and the four regional campuses; and is liaison to the Office of Research and provides collaborative oversight of the Targeted Investment in Excellence Initiative. He also assists in aligning development opportunities with academic strategies; is responsible for the Battelle Endowment for Technology & Human Affairs; serves as liaison to the Office of Outreach & Engagement and the John Glenn School of Public Affairs; and provides administrative oversight for the P-12 Project. He helped implement college strategic planning that is now extending to academic support units.
Previous positions include:
- Vice provost for academic administration, The Ohio State University.
- School director, the School of Physical Activity and Educational Services in the College of Education at The Ohio State University
- Interim director, Center on Education and Training for Employment, College of Education, The Ohio State University
Academic degrees: Doctor of philosophy in physical and health education (kinesiology), University of Texas; master's of science in biology, Ball State University; bachelor's degree in education (health education), Ohio University.
Campus visit: Feb. 17-19
CV: Download.