UW vice provost and graduate dean hailed as “Champion of Diversity”
UNM President David J. Schmidly today announced the selection of University of Washington Vice Provost and Graduate Dean Suzanne Trager Ortega as UNM’s Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, culminating a six-month nationwide search.
Photo: Suzanne Trager Ortega
“Dr. Ortega has been a champion of diversity at each of the universities that have been fortunate to have her in major leadership positions, each of them nationally recognized AAU institutions,” said Schmidly in an open letter to the UNM community. “She’s an inquisitive and tireless researcher, an award-winning teacher, and a respected contributor to countless university committees and professional associations. I think she’ll be a perfect fit for UNM as we build on our position as one of the nation’s leading centers for Hispanic and Native American learning to achieve AAU recognition ourselves.”
Schmidly said Ortega would begin her duties at UNM on August 1.
Ortega is excited by the possibilities presented by UNM. “UNM is leading the way for what the great 21st century research universities must become – student centered, community engaged, and enriched by the imagination and talents of the diverse students, staff, and faculty who comprise it. It is a true privilege to be able to join this remarkable university.”
Search committee chair Dr. Julia Fulghum, chair of chemical and nuclear engineering, said the committee was pleased with the high level of interest in the position and the outstanding pool of candidates. She said Ortega received glowing evaluations from across the university community. “Dr. Ortega will be an articulate voice for academic affairs, both within the university and in the external community. She understands that diversity and academic excellence are complementary rather than competing, and is the ideal person to advance our educational and research missions.”
Dr. Ortega began her academic career at Brevard Junior College in Florida and Austin Peay State University in Tennessee before obtaining a Masters of Arts and Doctorate in Sociology at Vanderbilt, where she also served as a Research Assistant Professor.
After 15 years on the Sociology faculty at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, she was named to a succession of senior academic positions before being named Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in 1995, a position she held for five years. She was Vice Provost for Advanced Studies and Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri – Columbia, and presently serves as Vice Provost and Graduate Dean at the University of Washington, where she is also Chair of the Graduate Record Exam Board. She is also a member of the Council of Graduate Schools Advisory Committee on Graduate Education and American Competitiveness. Throughout her administrative career, she has continued to teach, research and publish in the field of Sociology.
Dr. Ortega’s curriculum vitae can be found at: Suzanne Trager Ortega curriculum vitae.
Media Contact: Susan McKinsey, (505) 277-1807 or cell (505) 362-5530; e-mail: mckinsey@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at March 25, 2008 12:05 PM