Saunders appointed provost
By Michelle McCafferty
Dr. Mary Jane Saunders has been named provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. CSU’s Board of Trustees on March 16 approved the appointment of Saunders, who has been serving as interim provost since July following the resignation of Dr. Chin Kuo.
“I’m thrilled to be chosen as provost,” Saunders said. “CSU is at a great time in its history. With the Honors Program, Scholars Program, learning communities and new general education courses coming on board, the undergraduate program has never been more exciting and student-focused.”
President Michael Schwartz said Saunders has done “an outstanding job as both interim provost and founding dean of our College of Science.”
Saunders has “won the respect and admiration of her colleagues with her high energy, innovative ideas and genuine passion for moving this great university forward,” Schwartz said in a written statement.
Saunders was among the initial pool of 58 applicants who were then narrowed down to five finalists.
Saunders said, “CSU continues to make great strides in graduate and professional programs with extraordinary pass rates in national boards and exams. The research endeavor is growing at a very fast pace with new federal and state grants including the $23 million Wright Center for Sensors.
“With the help of the terrific and talented faculty, staff, and students of CSU, I’m sure the next few years will be a time of growth and continued success. I look forward to working with the internal and external communities of CSU and Cleveland to continue to build CSU.
“The president is an outstanding leader and it will be a pleasure to work with him and the very committed Board of Trustees.
This position is one of great responsibility and I will do my best to serve CSU well,” Saunders said.
Saunders came to CSU in 2003, serving as director and a professor of the Biomedical and Health Institute.
She was then named interim dean of the College of Science when it became a separate unit from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2004, and was named its founding dean in 2005.
