“Navigating Civil Dialogue in the Context of the War in the Middle East” will be held Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 10:30 a.m. ET via .

Tarek El-Ariss (left) and Susannah Heschel

The professors—, James Wright Professor and chair of Middle Eastern Studies, and , Eli M. Black Distinguished Professor and chair of Jewish Studies—will share insights and relate details about the ways they have sought to educate and listen to students in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. The pair recently discussed their approach to these issues in an .

Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer will offer opening remarks. , Kramer Director of the ���ϲ����� Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship, will serve as moderator.

The event, sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs, is open to the University community. A Q&A session will follow the discussion, which can be on Nov. 28 at 10:30 a.m.

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be provided. For more information, contact Sarah McAndrew at provost@syr.edu.

Hosted by Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter, the symposium featured speakers from across the University community—including students Miguel Guzman ’24, as part of a panel discussion on STEM expansion, and Sophie Creager-Roberts ’24, sharing the impact of her study abroad experiences—who discussed key elements of the plan and details about implementation. During the event in the K.G. Tan Auditorium, National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building, Chancellor Kent Syverud offered welcoming remarks. It was the first of what will become an annual event allowing participants to examine and refine the plan.

“The plan we’ve collectively developed recognizes the University’s distinctive strengths as well as our distinguished history, which is marked by values and commitments to being global, inclusive and diverse, and to cultivating engaged global citizenship,” said Provost Ritter in her remarks. “It is also a plan that responds to the challenges and opportunities of the moment, both broadly in our country, in our world, and locally in Central New York.”

If you weren’t able to attend, a video of the launch symposium is available below.

Lois Agnew

Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter has appointed Lois Agnew to the position of associate provost for academic programs. Agnew, who has served as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) since July 2022, takes on her new responsibilities effective July 1, following the decision by Associate Provost Chris Johnson to return to full-time faculty duties in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Agnew’s appointment was approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.

“Lois has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and scholarship in a variety of roles over the last several years,” says Ritter. “From the time she was named associate dean of A&S through her service as interim dean, along with her role in helping refresh the , Lois has been at the center of our efforts to advance excellence in academic affairs and ensure an unparalleled student academic experience. She is a gifted scholar, teacher and leader.”

A member of the ���ϲ����� community since 2004 and professor of writing and rhetoric, Agnew was named A&S associate dean of curriculum, innovation and pedagogy in July 2017. Other administrative positions held by Agnew include interim chair of the Department of African American Studies, chair of the Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition and director of undergraduate studies for the writing program.

“I’m thrilled at the opportunity to work with colleagues in Academic Affairs and across the University to support the dynamic teaching and learning environment outlined in the Academic Strategic Plan,” says Agnew. “Specifically, I am excited about expanding faculty involvement in the ; ensuring that our academic processes are transparent and support a diverse population of students; and exploring ways that our curriculum can more effectively meet the changing needs of students in today’s higher education landscape.”

Agnew has described her arrival at ���ϲ����� as “a gift” because it provided her an opportunity “to join a community of strong, committed and generous faculty and staff colleagues and to work with talented and dedicated graduate and undergraduate students.” She was a key player on the team that updated the liberal arts core; established a professional development program to build community among teaching faculty in A&S; coordinated the development of health humanities and digital humanities integrated learning majors; and organized A&S’s annual undergraduate research festival. Agnew has received multiple honors and awards, including the 2015 William Wasserstrom Prize for the Teaching of Graduate Students, the 2011 Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award and the 2007 Meredith Teaching Recognition Award.

Agnew’s research specializes in rhetorical history, with a primary focus on British rhetorical theories. She has published more than 25 journal articles, book chapters and two books, with a third book forthcoming. Before working at ���ϲ�����, Agnew was assistant professor of English at Rockford University (formerly Rockford College) in Illinois, where she served as chair of the Department of English and director of the Writing Center.

Agnew received a Ph.D. in English from Texas Christian University and a B.A. and M.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Provost Gretchen Ritter hosted the forum on Sept. 8 in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building to provide an overview on the academic strategic planning process, timeline, goals and ways all can be engaged.

For more, view the Academic Strategic Plan Launch Forum PowerPoint Presentation (PDF) and the .

When: Thursday, Sept. 8, 2-3:30 p.m.
Where: K.G. Tan Auditorium, National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building

There will be a brief speaking program, followed by a robust conversation and Q&A among participants.

Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) and American Sign Language (ASL) translation will be provided.

Attendees can participate in person or . For the Q&A, questions will be taken both virtually and in the room. Please reply to this email with any questions about the forum.

The Academic Affairs leadership team hopes to see you there!

It has been almost seven weeks since Russia invaded the sovereign state of Ukraine. Since that time, we have witnessed the courage, resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people in the face of a destructive and inhumane war. Some in our community have asked how they can help, and what more can be done. We write to you today to share some ways you can support those impacted. We also want to tell you a bit about related work—being done both in the classroom and by our students—here at ���ϲ�����.

Our immediate concern is for our students who are from the region and who may have loved ones in harm’s way. In February, the University reached out to these students to connect them with services and support. As part of that effort, the University is assisting in arranging housing over the summer for students who indicate to us that they cannot return home because of the ongoing conflict. In addition, a student-sponsored donation drive will begin this weekend. Clothing, non-perishable goods, medical supplies, hygiene products and other supplies are being collected. Donation boxes will be placed at various points around campus. The University is helping our students ship these supplies to a reputable relief agency. More details will be available later this week about donation box locations, the specific items most needed and how you can give to this effort.

For individuals interested in supporting those impacted directly, we encourage you to review the public-private partnership the U.S. Department of State’s  has established with . You can make direct financial donations to pre-certified nonprofit organizations that are helping to address the humanitarian needs of those impacted by the war in Ukraine.

The University is finding ways to support our academic colleagues in harm’s way, including joining the Scholars at Risk Network. This organization protects scholars suffering grave threats to their lives, liberty and well-being by arranging temporary research and teaching positions. The University is exploring how our ���ϲ����� Abroad sites might play a role in this work.

There is also important academic work being done that may have a long-term and significant impact in years to come. David Crane, a ���ϲ����� Distinguished Scholar in Residence, is the lead author of a white paper published last week titled “Russian War Crimes Against Ukraine. The Breach of International Humanitarian Law by the Russian Federation.” The white paper was created by Ukraine Task Force, comprising law students and legal scholars, several of whom are from our College of Law. The paper details allegations of numerous and well-documented war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of aggression that have occurred in Ukraine since the Russian invasion. It also includes a sample draft of a criminal indictment against Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin. Professor Crane is a renowned expert in this area. He served as the chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, an international war crimes tribunal where his work led to the indictment of Liberian President Charles Taylor, the first sitting African head of state in history to be held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Federal and international agencies have already asked for the task force’s work, expertise and insight in anticipating future action against Russian officials.

Finally, we know this conflict is weighing heavily on the minds of many in our community. Please know there are myriad resources, services and supports , as well as to .

These are just a few examples of how ���ϲ����� is responding to the war in Ukraine. We ask that our Orange community continue offering support, empathy and compassion to those most affected by these events.

Sincerely,

Gretchen Ritter
Vice Chancellor and Provost

Allen W. Groves
Senior Vice President and Chief Student Experience Officer

The shift from the Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience will create opportunities to increase the breadth and depth of excellence across academic programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. It will also allow for continued refinement of the Student Experience organizational structure, based on the top to bottom evaluation of student development and support functions that Senior Vice President for the Student Experience Allen Groves initiated when he arrived at ���ϲ����� in July 2021.

“Over the last several years, Student Experience staff have achieved great successes in working with our Enrollment Services colleagues to enhance recruitment, retention and success initiatives through new collaborations, processes and knowledge-sharing. The Student Experience team looks forward to continuing to work closely with Enrollment Services and partnering with the Provost, Academic Affairs and all schools and colleges to help our students thrive in all aspects of their ���ϲ����� experience,” says Groves.

Led by Vice President for Enrollment Services Ryan C. Williams, the areas within Enrollment Services will now report to the Office of Academic Affairs. These include Admissions, Undergraduate and Graduate Enrollment Processing, Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs, Financial Literacy, Student Employment and Institutional Research.

“I look forward to welcoming Ryan to the Academic Affairs leadership team and having the talented and accomplished staff in Enrollment Services join Academic Affairs. This move will enhance our ability to select the right students for our academic programs, support their academic success and retention, enable progress toward their degrees and ensure that students across the socioeconomic spectrum receive financial aid to pursue their academic goals. This holistic approach will ensure we continue to build excellence across all academic programs,” says Vice Chancellor and Provost Gretchen Ritter.

Ritter adds, “This realignment will also strengthen graduate student recruitment and enrollment through closer integration between Enrollment Services and the Graduate School. What won’t change is the role of the Institutional Research team, which will continue to provide their exceptional expertise in data analytics to partners across the University, including in the Student Experience.”

Enrollment Services will transition to Academic Affairs effective Jan. 1, 2022.

Q: How has your own experience in mentoring graduate students helped to shape your vision for graduate education at ���ϲ�����? 

A: Graduate students are a critical part of every university that values research and creative work. I have worked with graduate students as a professor, as a director of graduate studies and as an academic dean. My personal experience is that mentoring and collaborating with graduate students makes me a better scholar and teacher.

Working with graduate students ensures that I am always learning, and I know many of my colleagues would agree that our graduate students often prompt faculty to evaluate new approaches and perspectives. One of my top priorities is high-quality mentoring of graduate students. Ensuring that our graduate students are challenged, supported and ultimately successful makes every part of the university better.

Gretchen Ritter

Q: ���ϲ����� is home to excellent online graduate programs, primarily at the master’s level. How do you view the importance of online education in the graduate space? 

A: We have a robust portfolio of outstanding online graduate programs, with more than 2,000 students enrolled across the University. We know from experience that access to well-designed online graduate programs help students to advance in their fields of interest.

Many students at the master’s level are working professionals who want to earn a graduate degree on a part-time basis. Their real-world perspectives can enrich the graduate school experience for their peers. Others are not able to move to ���ϲ�����, but still have access to the outstanding faculty and key advantages of our graduate programs.

I am excited about the range and quality of the online graduate programs and credentials that the University offers–and expect that there will be more to come in the years ahead. They will continue to broaden ���ϲ�����’s reach and impact.

Q: Why are Ph.D. programs critical to the University’s mission, both as a research university and as a top university for undergraduate education?

A: Ph.D. programs are critical across multiple dimensions. The University has many highly ranked doctoral programs that bring distinction to the University and train highly accomplished independent scholars.

It’s hard to understate the role of Ph.D. students in a top-tier research university like ���ϲ�����. They are a critical part of our research and creative ecosystem. In collaboration with our outstanding faculty (and often post-doctoral students),  doctoral students can make important original contributions to their fields. They also train to become excellent teachers and student mentors. Undergraduate students, in turn, benefit from the mentorship and expertise of our graduate students.

Q: What is the role of terminal master’s degrees like the M.F.A. at a research university such as ���ϲ�����?

A: Master’s of fine arts degrees, whether in creative writing, performing arts or the visual arts, are key credentials for individuals who want to expand their creative practice or who want to teach in their area of expertise. Creative artists learn from other creative artists, and their work enriches the university experience for everyone that is part of the community.

Q: The Graduate Student Organization is quite active at ���ϲ�����. Can you speak to the importance of the GSO partnership with the Graduate School dean and others campus leaders in terms of elevating excellence in graduate education? 

A: I have been very impressed by the GSO. I think it’s critical for the graduate student organization to partner with the graduate dean and other administrative leaders to advocate for expanded opportunities for graduate students.

Hearing directly from our students about their needs helps us in our efforts to find solutions to common issues like dissertation completion, summer funding opportunities, and–as we saw recently–relief funding for students whose progress was slowed by COVID. I look forward to working closely with the GSO to continue to enhance the graduate student experience.

Q: If you could give ���ϲ����� graduate students one piece of advice, what would that be?

A: Look for opportunities to meet people and have experiences outside of your core discipline. I once heard a vice president for Google talk about how valuable it was for him that he completed a graduate minor in English literature while he was pursued a  Ph.D. in computer science.

���ϲ����� is rich with opportunities to network, collaborate and experience the full range of what a great research university has to offer. Go to a performance, walk through the art museum, attend a lecture outside of your field. You will be glad that you did.

As ���ϲ�����’s new vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer, Gretchen Ritter says her first priority during the coming weeks and months will be to get to know the faculty and students of her new campus community.

“I look forward to going on tours, visiting labs and studios, getting acquainted with colleagues from across the campus,” Ritter said, during a welcome event Tuesday, Oct. 12. “I want to thank you in advance for sharing with me your insights about what makes ���ϲ����� special and your good ideas about how we might achieve even greater levels of impact and excellence.”

Provost Gretchen Ritter

In those necessary conversations, Ritter also wants to express her own values—including one core value that “we are all here for the faculty and the students.”

“That is because it is through the research and creative excellence of the faculty that we expand knowledge and human understanding,” Ritter said. “And it is by enabling the talents and ambitions of our great students that we enrich the world with emerging leaders who will help us to imagine and achieve a better future for all of us.”

Ritter was named vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer in June 2021 after a global search. About 150 campus community members gathered Oct. 12 in the Ilene and David Flaum Grand Hall, Whitman School of Management, to officially welcome Ritter, who started her new role on Oct. 1. The event was also .

Before getting to know more about the University as a candidate for the position, Ritter said she knew about ���ϲ����� mostly through its reputation—hearing from colleagues at her previous institutions about the programs and people that define ���ϲ����� and the breadth and depth of its academic excellence.

In meeting and hearing from the Search Committee members, who she described as thoughtful about the University’s challenges and opportunities and deeply committed to the impact the University has on the world, Ritter gained an even fuller understanding of ���ϲ�����.

“I saw a campus community that is committed to public service, that cares deeply about the success and well-being of the students, that has embraced inclusive excellence and that was hungry for an opportunity to prioritize academic excellence,” Ritter said. “One of the phrases I heard first once and then repeatedly in my interviews and conversations was the self-description: ‘I bleed orange.’ From faculty, alumni, parents and students—what comes across is a deep commitment to what can be done as a member of this community.”

Speaking at the event, Chancellor Kent Syverud said the University and its people have made much progress over the past two years, despite the challenges in the world, and have been through many transitions.

“And now we have a long-term provost in office. And that’s a transition we need to embrace and support—all of us,” Chancellor Syverud said. “We have a provost in office who is a fine scholar, an experienced academic leader who’s seen and led at other top universities. And we have a person who is deeply thoughtful and caring about both our faculty and our students.”

Chancellor Kent Syverud at welcome event for Provost Gretchen Ritter

Chancellor Syverud noted Ritter’s accomplishments as a respected political scientist; her leadership as an administrator; her support for expanded faculty research and cross-collaboration; her work with faculty and leadership to secure philanthropy; her unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and access; and her focus on enhancing learning inside and outside of the classroom.

“She is a keen listener, as you’ve heard, and a strong communicator. These qualities will serve her well as the leader of us as an academic community,” said Chancellor Syverud. “I think she will carry this student-focused international research university into a really wonderful new era.”

Two members of the Provost Search Committee, Kira Reed, associate professor of management in the Whitman School of Management and Provost Faculty Fellow, and Jamie Winders, professor of geography in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and committee chair, also welcomed Ritter at the event.

Jamie Winders

Winders explained how the search committee met with many people on campus—faculty, students and staff—to find out the most important issues the next provost should address and the qualities and qualifications for that person.

In conversations with Ritter, the committee members “became more and more convinced that she was what our campus charged us to find in our next provost, that her ability to ask the right—if tough—questions, her vision for where ���ϲ����� could go, and how to get there, and her deep commitment to working with faculty and all other parts of campus to place our academic mission at the center of everything we do, made her our ideal provost,” Winders said.

Yousr Dhaouadi, a doctoral student in Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and president of the Graduate Student Association, said she was honored to speak at the event on behalf of the student body, which will work with the new provost to continue to strengthen academic excellence.

Dhaouadi spoke of how Ritter had reached out to meet with the Graduate Student Organization, the Student Association and other student entities before the start of the semester.

“I want to thank Dr. Ritter for making students an important part of her first few weeks at ���ϲ�����,” Dhaouadi said. “I am humbled to be a part of such a remarkable and talented community here at ���ϲ�����, and on behalf of ���ϲ����� students, we look forward to working with you Dr. Ritter.”

Incoming Vice Chancellor and Provost Gretchen Ritter today announced John Liu will lead the University’s internationalization efforts as vice president for international strategy. The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees will be asked to approve the appointment at its next meeting.

John Liu

Hired to grow ���ϲ�����’s research portfolio as vice president for research, Liu was later charged with strengthening and enhancing the University’s academic enterprise as interim vice chancellor and provost. Liu, who will spend the rest of the current fiscal year on research leave, will assume his new post on June 1, 2022.

“John’s outstanding leadership before and through the pandemic has contributed to ���ϲ�����’s track record of academic and research excellence, student success, innovation and continued growth,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “I am grateful to John for serving as interim provost during this historically challenging period. His impact will be felt well into the future.”

Liu guided many of the University’s commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, including a $50 million investment in faculty diversity hiring, “Future Professors Postdoctoral Fellowship” program, the First Year Seminar and creation of the Student Activism Engagement Team. With Vice Chancellor Michael Haynie and Dean Mike Frasciello, he kept the University on a path to continue to build and deliver high-quality online educational experiences for learners at all stages of life.

As vice president for research, Liu conceptualized and developed the cluster hiring program to foster interdisciplinary collaborations and make ���ϲ����� research most relevant to global and societal challenges. As provost, he led the program expansion into 10 key areas where ���ϲ�����’s research can lead the way in solving pressing problems.

“As a global research university, international partnerships, engagement and enrollment are central to our mission of preparing students for global citizenship and career and life success. John’s record of building our research infrastructure and guiding academic affairs through such extraordinary times are a testament to his ability to establish and achieve big aspirations. I am grateful he has agreed to serve in this critically important role and look forward to our collaboration,” says Ritter.

As vice president, Liu will facilitate meaningful international partnerships to create new opportunities in research, scholarship and creative work, and to drive undergraduate and graduate enrollment—both on ���ϲ�����’s main campus and at locations abroad.

Ramesh Raina

Citing his strong leadership of the research infrastructure and considerable contributions to the University’s COVID response strategy, Ritter has asked Ramesh Raina to stay on as interim vice president for research; Raina graciously agreed.

“Ramesh has already been such a strong partner to me and continues to be an incredible leader in both the academic and research space,” says Ritter. “I appreciate his willingness to continue serving as I learn more about the University’s research enterprise.”

Ritter will launch a review of the research infrastructure in October to better understand the University’s strategy, assets, strengths and opportunities.

Raina was named interim vice president for research in January 2020. He oversaw the temporary halt and successful restart of the research enterprise during the pandemic, increased professional development for research faculty and students and deployed the CUSE grant, postdoctoral scholar grant and small equipment grant programs. He also led the execution of the faculty hiring strategy for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years. Raina has also been an integral part of the University’s public health team, particularly as it relates to launching and maintaining the internal surveillance testing program.

Gretchen Ritter

The global search for ���ϲ�����’s next vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer has culminated with the selection of Gretchen Ritter, a highly respected and dynamic academic administrator who has held leadership roles at some of the country’s most prominent institutions of higher education. Ritter, currently executive dean and vice provost for The Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences, will assume her new role on Oct. 1. Her appointment was approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees and endorsed by the search committee charged with identifying the finalists for this critically important position.

“Gretchen’s track record of success as an academic leader, educator, researcher and writer will allow her to make an immediate impact on ���ϲ�����’s research and academic enterprise,” says Kent Syverud, chancellor and president of ���ϲ�����. “As a prolific social scientist, Gretchen is inspiring as is her academic work on contemporary issues facing our society. Her contributions will elevate ���ϲ�����’s global standing as a preeminent research institution.”

As executive dean and vice provost at Ohio State’s College of Arts and Sciences, Ritter is responsible for the academic success and research excellence of more than 17,000 undergraduate students, 2,300 graduate students and 1,300 faculty. Ritter oversees 38 academic departments and schools, more than 20 centers and institutes, and more than 80 major programs. Under her leadership, the college provides approximately half of all credit hours on the Columbus campus across the arts, humanities, and social, behavioral, natural and mathematical sciences. During her tenure at Ohio State, Ritter helped to lead the development of the universitywide Race, Inclusion, and Social Equity (RAISE) proposal announced in February; revamped the theatre department into the Department of Theatre, Film and Media Arts; restructured the office of undergraduate education; secured the single largest individual donation the college has ever received; and expanded support for sponsored research. This role, Ritter says, combined with her nearly 30 years of experience in higher education, has prepared her for this opportunity.

“New York is home to me and has played such a profound role in shaping my life—both personally and professionally,” says Ritter. “To have the opportunity to serve in leadership alongside Chancellor Syverud at one of the most prestigious universities in my home state is truly a dream come to fruition. I look forward to working with faculty, leadership, students and staff at a time when ���ϲ����� is poised to achieve even higher levels of excellence.”

Prior to joining Ohio State, Ritter served as the Harold Tanner Dean of Cornell University’s College of Arts and Sciences, the university’s largest college, from 2013-18. As the college’s first female dean, Ritter provided strategic vision and oversight for 28 academic departments, more than 500 tenured and tenure-track faculty, 5,600 students and an annual budget exceeding $400 million. During her time at Cornell, Ritter increased the diversity of faculty and the undergraduate student body; appointed more women and faculty of color to leadership positions; created new support programs for first-generation students; expanded research and travel funding for humanities faculty; created, in partnership with the College of Engineering, the Cornell Neurotech Program; oversaw the creation of a one-credit freshman advising seminar; helped endow the Center for the Study of Inequality; revised tenure and promotion procedures; and established newly endowed professorships and department chair and program director positions.

Jamie Winders, professor of geography in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, chaired the and says Ritter is an exceptional choice because of her experience, record of achievement and philosophical approach to academic leadership.

“We were charged with finding a strong and visionary academic leader who was committed to supporting and strengthening all the different components of ���ϲ�����’s research and academic missions,” says Winders. “Gretchen Ritter rose to the top of many qualified candidates. We welcome her with great enthusiasm to the ���ϲ����� community. I am grateful for the opportunity to have chaired the search committee and am thrilled with the result.”

Ritter also previously spent nine years at the University of Texas at Austin, serving as vice provost of undergraduate education and faculty governance, co-chair of the Gender Equity Taskforce and director of the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies. She also taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Princeton University and Harvard University.

Michael Schwartz, associate professor in the College of Law and a member of the search committee, says recruiting a candidate of Ritter’s caliber and whose scholarship is so applicable to today’s higher education landscape was especially attractive to the search committee.

“The selection of Gretchen Ritter was not difficult,” says Schwartz. “Personally, she is warm and engaging and very approachable. Professionally, she demonstrated all the qualities we were looking for in a leader who inspires others. Gretchen is a steadfast steward of shared governance whose commitment and abilities to effect positive change under challenging circumstances is demonstrated by her leadership at Ohio State and Cornell University before that. Gretchen will be a strong advocate for our faculty and our students, and push our academic and research enterprise to new heights.”

Ritter earned a bachelor’s degree in government from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in political science from MIT. She is the author or editor of three books: “The Constitution as Social Design: Gender and Civic Membership in the American Constitutional Order” (Palo Alto: Stanford University Press, 2006); “Goldbugs and Greenbacks: The Antimonopoly Tradition and the Politics of Finance in America, 1865-1896” (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997); and “Democratization in America: A Comparative and Historical Perspective,” edited by Desmond King, Robert Lieberman, Gretchen Ritter and Laurence Whitehead, (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009).

Ritter’s appointment will mark the conclusion of Zhanjiang “John” Liu’s tenure as interim vice chancellor and provost.

“John has been an excellent and steady academic leader during one of the most uncertain and challenging times in our university’s history,” says Chancellor Syverud. “His tenacious work ethic, strong leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing our academic and research priorities are just some of the many characteristics that allowed him to be such a successful interim provost. I am grateful to him for the many ways he elevated our academic enterprise through his leadership.”

Liu will continue to serve as interim vice chancellor and provost until Ritter’s appointment begins.

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

Congratulations to everyone for reaching the end of a hectic semester! I’m writing with a quick update on the search for our next provost.

First, let me say thank you to everyone who took time to meet with the Provost Search Committee in one of the 30 or so consultative sessions we hosted earlier this semester. The feedback and insight you provided in these sessions played an incredibly important role in helping our committee identify the most important traits, skills and perspectives we should be seeking in our next provost.

Second, let me say thank you to the faculty, students, staff, alumni and Board of Trustees members on our and to the team of staff providing support to us as a committee. These folks have devoted long hours to this search and made significant sacrifices to carve out time for this work. They’ve reviewed a very large, deep and compelling pool of candidates. They’ve given careful and thoughtful consideration to one another’s perspectives. They’ve asked important and difficult questions in our deliberations and encouraged us all to reflect on our decisions from multiple perspectives. Most importantly, they’ve oriented their assessments of applicants to what they see as the best path forward for our university. A hearty thanks to them for this work.

We recently completed the first round of interviews for our provost search and will soon be conducting a second round of interviews with a small group of finalists about whom the committee is particularly excited. We had an incredibly strong pool of candidates, and narrowing that pool down to finalists wasn’t easy. Our search, however, is on schedule for our committee to complete its work in early June, with the hopes of having a new provost in place to start our Fall 2021 semester.

There has been immense enthusiasm from candidates about all the exciting developments at ���ϲ�����, as well as all the opportunities for moving us forward as an institution. We, as a search committee, have been honored to work on this provost search and appreciate all the support and guidance we’ve received from our campus.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact . You can also keep up with progress on our search at our , which includes an up-to-date for our work.

All the best,

Jamie Winders
Chair, Provost Search Committee

“This is a critical time for ���ϲ����� and all institutions of higher education, as we call upon leadership to adapt to the rapid pace of change and the unprecedented demands posed by the global pandemic,” says Chancellor Syverud. “Our next provost must be the kind of person who not only inspires innovative and creative thinking that defines academic excellence, but one who has also demonstrated the ability to bring diverse voices and experiences together to lead through challenging times, seize opportunities and achieve strategic goals that redefine the student experience.”

Given the global nature and impact of the University’s academic reach and research portfolio, the search for the new provost and chief academic officer will be a global one. Executive search firm WittKieffer will support the search process to identify an array of diverse and qualified candidates.

Jamie Winders, professor of geography in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, will chair the committee. Winders currently serves as faculty representative to the ���ϲ����� Board of Trustees, participates, ex officio, on the Board’s Academic Affairs Committee, and reports to the board at its Executive Committee and full board meetings. The search committee, with the support of the University Senate, includes deans, faculty, staff, students, administrators and trustees.

• Sharif Bey, associate professor, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Duncan Brown, professor, College of Arts and Sciences
• Dan Cutler, director of learning communities
• Carol Fadda, associate professor, College of Arts and Sciences
• Tula Goenka, professor, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Marcelle Haddix, professor, School of Education
• Can Isik, professor, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Laurel Morton, instructor, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Christine Larsen G’84, University Trustee
• Jeff Pauline, associate professor, Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
• Louise Phanstiel, University Trustee
• Amir Rahnamay-Azar, senior vice president of Business, Finance and Administrative Services and chief financial officer
• Kira Reed, associate professor, Whitman School of Management
• Steve Sawyer, professor, School of Information Studies
• Michael Schwartz, associate professor, College of Law
• Yutaka Sho, associate professor, School of Architecture
• Michael Speaks, dean, School of Architecture
• Howard Woolley ’80, University Trustee
• Student representation will be selected by student organization leaders.

Chancellor Syverud has set an aggressive timeline for the search, with the goal of announcing a new provost before summer 2021.

The panel features Isisara Bey, journey agent; Maureen Casey, chief operating officer of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF); and Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly. The panelists will share their experiences in leadership roles.

Isisara Bey

An international speaker, Bey engages audiences in an exploration of leadership and personal empowerment. She uses the principles of business and human potential development to sharpen focus, strengthen execution and enhance peak performance. Her interactive presentations propel people toward action and help forge stronger teams that yield higher results. Her clients include Odyssey Media, the Apollo Theater, New York Public Radio, the Women of the World Festival, Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, the New York City Parks Foundation, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the Congressional Tri-Caucus and the U.S. State Department’s Pathways to Prosperity and Vital Voices.

She has spoken to audiences in Australia, Cambodia, Egypt, Guatemala, Singapore, the United Kingdom and across the United States. Earlier in her career, Bey served as a corporate executive for Sony Music and Sony Pictures Entertainment in New York and Los Angeles. Prior to that, she was a television news producer and radio on-air personality. She has been a director on numerous nonprofit boards.

Maureen Casey

With IVMF, Casey is responsible for all aspects of the institute’s daily operations, personnel and financial activities. As a member of the leadership team, Casey works to guide and support the organization’s programs and services, and research and evaluation activities, as well as its relationships with public and private funders. Prior to joining IVMF, Casey was a managing director at JPMorgan Chase & Co., overseeing the firm’s Office of Military and Veterans Affairs, which was responsible for, among other things, the 100,000 Jobs Mission—a commitment with other companies to hire 200,000 veterans by 2020—and the Chase Home Awards program, a commitment by the firm to award 1,000 mortgage-free homes to deserving veterans through its nonprofit partners. Under her leadership, the mission grew to nearly 200 companies, hired more than 240,000 veterans and solidified JPMorgan Chase as a national leader in veteran employment.

Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase, Casey was a senior vice president with Giuliani Partners LLC. From 1997 to 2002, she was employed with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), initially as counsel to the first deputy commissioner and then as the NYPD’s deputy commissioner for policy and planning. During her tenure, she was an integral part of the team leading the city’s response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.  Prior to her work with the NYPD, she spent more than 12 years working in New York State’s criminal justice system.

Michele Wheatly

Wheatly is recognized as a national thought leader on building partnerships around education, economic development and health care (keynoted at the University Economic Development Association and the APLU’s Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness, and Economic Prosperity). She is also a passionate proponent of inclusive excellence, promoting access for and the success of women, people of color and people with disabilities in the knowledge economy.

Before being named vice chancellor and provost at ���ϲ����� in 2016, Wheatly was professor of biology at West Virginia University (WVU). She was named WVU’s provost in September 2009 and served in that role from January 2010 to June 2014. Previously, she was dean of science and math (2002-09) and chair of biology (1994-2002) at Wright State University. Wheatly ascended the academic ranks at the University of Florida (1984-94) and undertook postdoctoral training at the University of Calgary, Canada (1980-84) after earning both a Ph.D. and B.Sc. at Birmingham University in the United Kingdom.

An internationally recognized scholar/educator (and presidential medalist in 1988), Wheatly has been continuously funded by the National Science Foundation ($25.4 million over 30 years) and has contributed substantially to her field (110 papers, 190 abstracts, 29 colloquia, 22 research students). Her scholarship interests include the comparative physiology of crustaceans, the logic of epithelial Ca transport, biologically inspired adaptive interfaces, bio complexity and access to STEM careers for members of underrepresented groups.

The event is hosted by Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff for Chancellor Kent Syverud; Andrew Gordon, senior vice president and chief human resources officer; Diane Lyden Murphy, dean of Falk College; LaVonda Reed, associate provost for faculty affairs; Dara Royer, senior vice president and chief communications officer; and Wheatly.

Those interested in attending are asked to R.S.V.P. by March 27 to krduda@syr.edu.

To request accommodations, contact krduda@syr.edu.

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint and nearly 150 years of history, ���ϲ����� offers a quintessential college experience, as well as innovative online learning environments. The scope of ���ϲ����� is a testament to its strengths. At ���ϲ�����, we offer a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges and 18 online degree programs. We have more than 15,000 undergraduates and 7,500 graduate students, more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit .

The goal of the new internal grants is to enhance a diverse, inclusive student body.

The grants will support planning, implementing and evaluating high-impact practices designed to achieve the targeted objectives. The practices should have the potential of being scaled up to involve more students, and they should include real measurements to determine their effect on those involved.

“This grant program supports one of the key priorities that emerged from the Academic Strategic Plan, which is to enhance and sustain an inclusive, accessible campus of opportunity for a richly diverse student body,” says Provost Michele Wheatly. “Diversity and inclusion are core values of the University, and they are essential components of an outstanding academic experience. Our hope and expectation is that this grant will help generate creative ideas and identify high-impact practices that can really advance our goals in this area.”

Initiatives that are chosen for funding will be developed through the spring and summer and be ready to pilot in the 2018-19 academic year. The plan is to fund $20,000 worth of proposals, with the typical individual project budget totaling $5,000 or less.

Grant proposals are due March 19 by 5 p.m.

Each proposal must explain the target student audience that will be involved and why it would be best served through the proposed high-impact practice. In general, the target audience should be undergraduate students, although experiences that reach graduate students may also be considered. Programs that support training and professional development of faculty and staff who engage directly with students will be considered as well, as long as student impact can be measured.

Complete instructions on how to apply can be found via the . Questions about the grant initiative should be directed to Rochelle Ford, professor and chair of the public relations department at the and a Provost Faculty Fellow, via email at rlford@syr.edu or by phone at 315.443.9347.

About ���ϲ�����

Founded in 1870, ���ϲ����� is a private international research university dedicated to advancing knowledge and fostering student success through teaching excellence, rigorous scholarship and interdisciplinary research. Comprising 11 academic schools and colleges, the University has a long legacy of excellence in the liberal arts, sciences and professional disciplines that prepares students for the complex challenges and emerging opportunities of a rapidly changing world. Students enjoy the resources of a 270-acre main campus and extended campus venues in major national metropolitan hubs and across three continents. ���ϲ�����’s student body is among the most diverse for an institution of its kind across multiple dimensions, and students typically represent all 50 states and more than 100 countries. ���ϲ����� also has a long legacy of supporting veterans and is home to the nationally recognized Institute for Veterans and Military Families, the first university-based institute in the U.S. focused on addressing the unique needs of veterans and their families.

The committee was appointed by Chancellor Syverud on April 16. It is responsible for identifying candidates and submitting finalists for consideration to the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees. The goal of the committee is to identify the candidate(s) who will best serve as the University’s chief academic officer and represent all aspects of the academic mission.

Committee members represent faculty, staff, students and the Board of Trustees. Aysha A. Seedat ’16, a policy studies major and president-elect of the Student Association, will serve as the undergraduate student representative. Vice Chancellor of Veteran and Military Affairs J. Michael Haynie will serve as the Chancellor’s liaison to the search committee. In addition, the search committee will select a search firm very soon.

Jeffrey Stanton

Stanton’s appointment follows the selection of Liz Liddy, Dean and Trustee Professor of the iSchool, as Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost. Liddy will begin in January as Eric Spina concludes his tenure as Vice Chancellor and Provost at the end of the month. The Chancellor’s appointment of Stanton was recommended and supported by both Spina and Liddy. “Jeff has a deep knowledge of the iSchool and its mission to help our students in information and information technology do great things. He is a respected teacher, researcher and colleague in the iSchool and across campus,” Syverud says. “I am pleased that he has accepted to take on this new role. I know he will provide insightful and dedicated leadership during this time of transition.”

Stanton received tenure in 2004 and was promoted to full professor in 2011 based on a sustained record of scholarship: three books, 46 peer-reviewed journal articles, dozens of book chapters and more than 50 refereed conference papers. Stanton has also obtained more than $5.5 million in extramural funding, including the National Science Foundation’s prestigious CAREER award.

“I have worked closely with Jeff during my time as dean and am a very strong believer in his capabilities and dedication to our iSchool,” said Liddy says. “I am sure that under his leadership the iSchool will continue on its excellent path of high achievements for our students, our school and the University.”

During the 2012-2013 academic year, Stanton was a fellow of the American Council on Education in its emerging leaders fellowship program. During the fellowship, Stanton’s campus placement was in the office of the president at SUNY Cortland, where he worked on advancement and student affairs. During the fellowship he was also certified as a campus planner by the Society for College and University Planning. In 2014, Stanton was also selected as a fellow of the Leading Change Institute, co-sponsored by EDUCAUSE and CLIR. Stanton’s background includes more than a decade of experience in business—both in established firms and start-up companies—where he worked as a software engineer and manager.

“I am grateful for Chancellor Syverud’s support and the opportunity to serve as interim dean for the iSchool and to carry on the extraordinary work of Dean Liddy and our talented group of faculty, students and staff members,” Stanton says. “This is an exciting time for the iSchool, with new vistas of research opening up in the information field and demand for our graduates stronger than ever.”

Eric F. Spina, Vice Chancellor and Provost since 2006, today announced that he will conclude his tenure as Provost at the end of 2014. Spina will return to the faculty as a newly appointed Trustee Professor and will pursue his longtime goal of obtaining a top leadership position within higher education. The appointment as a Trustee Professor was confirmed by vote of the Board of Trustees’ Executive Committee yesterday.

“Serving ���ϲ����� as Vice Chancellor and Provost under two exceptional chancellors for eight years has truly been a privilege and an honor,” Spina says. “I am very grateful for the trust and confidence of so many people during this journey. I have greatly enjoyed working with close colleagues to support the incredible students and faculty of ���ϲ����� and to advance our teaching, research and engagement missions.

“I care deeply about this University, and at this time believe I owe it to the campus community to step aside before I begin my earnest search for a presidency position. This will allow Chancellor Syverud to select a vice chancellor and provost who can serve with the deans and other senior leaders to be hired in the coming year,” Spina adds.

“Eric has devoted more than 25 years of his life to ���ϲ�����, as a teacher, as a dean, as vice chancellor and provost, and the University is a better place because of it,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “I have experienced first-hand Eric’s commitment to teaching, research and academic excellence, and the collaborations he has supported have allowed the University to advance its academic mission. I am personally grateful for the service Eric has provided me during my first year as Chancellor.”

Chancellor Syverud has appointed Liz Liddy, Dean and Trustee Professor of the School of Information Studies (iSchool), as Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost effective Jan. 1, 2015.

A member of the ���ϲ����� community for 26 years, Spina began his career as a faculty member in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, where he was Chair of the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Manufacturing Engineering. In 2003, he was appointed the Douglas D. Danforth Dean of the college, a position he held until he was appointed Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost in July 2006. He was named Vice Chancellor and Provost in Jan. 2007.

In 2013, Spina served as the University’s Interim Chancellor and President. Among his many achievements, in 2002 the University awarded Spina one of its highest honors—the ���ϲ����� Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Contribution to the University’s Academic Programs.

During his time as Vice Chancellor and Provost, Spina built a cadre of academic deans who stewarded their schools and colleges and pushed the University forward through the expansion of scholarly modalities. He refreshed a third of the faculty at the junior and senior levels and pushed academic units to improve diversity, particularly among faculty and undergraduate students. Highly regarded among his peer group nationally, Spina led efforts on campus to embrace pedagogical innovation, including the development of online curricula and directing the strategic planning process for Fast Forward ���ϲ�����.

“I have had the distinct pleasure of collaborating with Eric over the years, and while I will miss working with him, I wish him all the best with his new endeavors,” Liddy says. “I am truly honored Chancellor Syverud has asked me to step in and I look forward to engaging my faculty colleagues across campus to enhance the capabilities of the Provost’s Office. This is an exciting time to be at ���ϲ�����. I’m looking forward to leading and supporting the development of the academic Strategic Plan and playing an active role in the next phase of our growth and development.”

Liddy adds that she plans to create a small team of University faculty that will support her and augment the Provost’s Office moving forward. She expects to name and announce that team in the coming days.

Liddy joined the University in 1988 as a member of the faculty. In 1999, she was named Founding Director of the iSchool’s Center for Natural Language Processing, which advances the development of human-like language understanding software capabilities for government, commercial, and consumer applications. The holder of eight software patents, Liddy has led 70 research projects, authored more than 110 research papers and given hundreds of conference presentations on her work. The recipient of several high-profile awards she received the Outstanding Alumni Award from ���ϲ����� in 2000.

Liddy served as chair of the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Information Retrieval from 2007 to 2009 and was chair of the iSchool Caucus for 2012-2013. She is a member of Beta Phi Mu, the library and information studies honor society, and Sigma Xi, the international honor society of scientific and engineering research. She received a Ph.D. from the iSchool in 1988.

“Liz is a most talented and respected dean. I am so pleased she has agreed to step into this critical role,” says Chancellor Syverud. “I believe her entrepreneurial spirit and drive for innovation will be of great benefit to me, my Executive Team, the deans, students, faculty and staff. I look forward to working with Liz and the Office of the Provost to further engage and collaborate with our faculty colleagues across campus as we establish our strategic plan, look to the future and ensure ���ϲ����� is the best place to teach and learn.”