The Office of the Provost today announced changes to its leadership structure to better align with the priorities of Guided by Mission, Inspired to Change: Marquette’s strategic plan for 2031. The changes, which follow extensive feedback from University Academic Senate, will group similar functions and reduce the number of senior leaders in the Provost’s Office.
While some reporting relationships will change, currently, all employees will be retained under the new structure.
A committee appointed by Provost Kimo Ah Yun in May 2023 was tasked with evaluating the office’s structure by interviewing leaders who report to the provost, as well as many of their direct reports. In doing so, the group looked at industry best practices, reviewed recommendations from the University Academic Senate workgroups in 2021, and consulted current documents, including program reviews and organizational charts.
The committee’s recommendations to optimally organize the areas that report to the provost coincided with the recent announcements of three senior leaders who are leaving their administrative roles at the end of the fiscal year — Dr. Gary Meyer, who will return to the faculty; Dr. John Baworowsky, who will retire; and Dr. Doug Woods, who will be the next provost at Loyola University Chicago. This presented a timely, strategic opportunity to reconsider and streamline the academic affairs leadership structure. The changes combine senior roles in some areas and make available additional support and resources to advance priorities in the Marquette 2031 strategic plan, including belonging, enrollment, wellness, academic effectiveness and student success.
Leaders of each area will work to integrate their teams and work and determine the best way to transition to the new structure. This will be an ongoing process with support from Human Resources and the Office of the Provost, with the majority of reporting changes and transition work expected to be complete around the beginning of the new fiscal year.
The following provost direct reports will have changing roles and responsibilities:
- Integrating student affairs and institutional diversity and inclusion under Dr. Chris Navia’s leadership: The vice president for student affairs and vice president for inclusive excellence roles will be combined into a new vice president for belonging and student affairs. Dr. Chris Navia will assume the acting role of vice president for belonging and student affairs, with oversight of the dean of students’ areas; institutional diversity and inclusion; housing and residence life; student conduct, support, engagement and inclusion; and auxiliary services. The role is effective July 1.
- Acting leader named for enrollment management: Following Baworowsky’s retirement, Brian Troyer, associate vice provost for enrollment management and dean of Undergraduate Admission, will serve as acting vice president for enrollment management and dean of undergraduate admissions. The role is effective July 1.
- Acting leader named for Graduate School: Dr. Scott D’Urso, associate dean in the Graduate School, will serve as acting vice provost for graduate and professional studies and dean of the Graduate School, effective immediately.
- Aligning institutional research and analysis with program review and assessment: Alix Riley has been promoted to chief academic effectiveness officer, effective immediately. This expands on her current role leading institutional research and analysis, adding program review, assessment and accreditation. Riley will also immediately join the University Leadership Council.
- Faculty affairs to move under academic affairs: Following Meyer’s return to faculty, the faculty affairs function will be led by an associate vice provost for faculty affairs and report to Dr. John Su, vice provost for academic affairs and student success. A search is underway to fill the associate vice provost of faculty affairs position.
- New wellness leader to reflect priorities of the Marquette 2031 strategic plan: To align with the priorities in our Marquette 2031 strategic plan and the early 2025 opening of an integrated Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility, the university will create a new position of chief wellness officer that will lead the development of a holistic, multidisciplinary strategy for student health and well-being, while integrating well-being into all facets of the Marquette student experience. The CWO will oversee the Counseling Center; Medical Clinic; student health wellness and promotion; and recreational sports. Additionally, the CWO will partner with other areas of campus, including Human Resources for faculty and staff wellness. The university will conduct a search for this position, which will report to the provost. Until this position is filled, the individuals leading these areas will continue reporting to their current supervisors.
- Elevated Title IX office: Title IX Coordinator and Director of Student Civil Rights Compliance Kristen Kreple will now report to the provost, effective immediately.
Provost direct reports that are not changing:
- Reporting structure or responsibilities for the academic deans
- Reporting structure or responsibilities for assistant provost and chief of staff
- Reporting structure or responsibilities for assistant provost for budget and division operations
An updated university organizational chart is available online.
