Dr. Douglas W. Woods, vice provost for graduate and professional studies and dean of the Graduate School, has been named the next provost at Loyola University Chicago; he will leave Marquette at the end of the spring 2024 semester after eight years at the university.
Since starting at Marquette in 2016, Woods reorganized the Graduate School with a renewed focus on student recruitment, leading to record highs in Graduate School enrollment; developed an ambitious strategic plan for Graduate School; launched a new doctoral career skills requirement for Ph.D. students; and developed and implemented the new program incubator, which has created numerous new industry-informed graduate programs.
“I have had the great pleasure of working with Doug Woods at two universities. As a senior leader, he has demonstrated impressive leadership skills and a strong commitment to supporting students and faculty at all levels. I know that he will be successful as he moves into the role of provost at Loyola University Chicago,” President Michael R. Lovell said. “He has been a trusted, strategic adviser to me and others across campus — I wish him the best on this well-earned step in his career.”
“Dr. Woods has been an extraordinary strategic, mission-oriented leader for Marquette University,” Provost Kimo Ah Yun said. “He led the Graduate School with vision and principle, and he was an invaluable partner on the university’s recent strategic planning efforts, serving as the academic affairs lead on the Strategic Plan Core Team. Loyola University Chicago has found in Dr. Woods a servant leader who will guide its academic enterprise with purpose and a commitment to the Catholic, Jesuit mission and values our institutions share.”
“I am grateful to President Lovell and Provost Ah Yun for the opportunity to serve Marquette University and its graduate community. I have made many good friends and colleagues during my time here and will miss them,” Woods said. “I am particularly thankful for the directors of graduate studies, University Board of Graduate Studies, Graduate School Leadership Council, Graduate Student Organization, staff of the Graduate School and graduate students at Marquette. Their work over my time here has been incredible.”
Prior to joining Marquette, Woods was chair of the psychology department at Texas A&M University and associate dean for social sciences, education and business at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Graduate School.
Woods’ research interests are in understanding, developing treatments for, and disseminating behavioral interventions for children and adults with Tourette’s syndrome and other OCD-spectrum disorders.
Woods earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Ohio University, a master’s degree in clinical psychology from North Dakota State University and a doctorate in clinical psychology from Western Michigan University.
