Salma Ghanem appointed interim provost

Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to announce DePaul’s Board of Trustees voted to appoint Salma Ghanem interim provost effective July 1. Salma, a professor and dean of the College of Communication, has been serving as acting provost since October 2018. Over the last eight months, she has served admirably during a challenging time for Academic Affairs. I am grateful for her willingness to continue in this role

With a background blending the theoretical and applied aspects of the field of communication, Salma became dean of the College of Communication in August 2014. Prior to joining DePaul, she served as dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts at Central Michigan University for five years. She also held the position of chair of the Department of Communication at the University of Texas Pan American for eight years. Salma Ghanem

In addition to her academic background, she served as a press and information officer for the Press Office of the Egyptian Mission to the United Nations in New York and as a communication specialist with Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Texas. Born and raised in Egypt, she is fluent in Arabic and French and has considerable skill in Spanish. Her passion for cultural awareness and interdisciplinary research stems from the fact she herself is an immigrant and was raised by parents who are Egyptian and Dutch. She taught for 15 years at the University of Texas-Pan American, a Hispanic Serving Institution. She also taught in several study-abroad programs in Spain, Egypt, Turkey, Austria and Germany. Salma received multiple awards for research and teaching, and has published and presented nationally and internationally. She earned a Ph.D. in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin in 1996. It is indeed our good fortune to have talented leaders who can step up and take on expanded responsibilities. I am pleased to also announce Alexandra Murphy will continue to serve as acting dean of the College of Communication. On behalf of the university community, I thank them for continuing in these important leadership roles. The university intends to conduct a nationwide search for a new provost in the summer or fall of 2021 with the goal of naming a permanent provost by July 1, 2022. Please join me in congratulating Salma on her appointment as interim provost. Sincerely, A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D. President

WE HAVE A PROVOST!

Dear Colleagues, Please join me in welcoming our new provost, Dr. Marten denBoer, on his first day at DePaul. As our chief academic officer, Marten will spend the next several months familiarizing himself with DePaul and our community. He will meet with a wide range of university leaders, including many tenured, non-tenured, term and adjunct faculty in our schools and colleges. When you see him on campus, I encourage you to give him a warm welcome. To refresh your memory on Marten’s background, please read a profile DePaul Newsline published when we first announced his appointment. Newsline will publish more articles about our new provost later this fall. I have kept in close contact with Marten these past several months and know how much he looks forward to working closely with all of you. I know he eagerly anticipates the ways he can work with the entire university community to continue to strengthen and build our university, providing our students with an even greater education. Marten may be reached at provost@depaul.edu. Respectfully, Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M. President

New Provost Announced - Marten L. denBoer

Dear Members of the University Community: I am pleased to announce the appointment of Marten L. denBoer, Ph.D., as provost of DePaul University. A university leader, scientist and teacher, Marten brings broad experience in higher education to DePaul. In his new role, effective July 1, he will oversee Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management and Marketing, Student Affairs and Teaching and Learning Resources.
As provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State Polytechnic University Pomona, Marten is well versed in the day-to-day functions of a university administration. In his current role, he serves as the chief academic officer at Cal Poly Pomona, overseeing eight colleges and more than 150 programs. Valuing close collaboration with faculty, Marten developed and implemented a strategic plan, unanimously endorsed by the Academic Senate, to guide decision making across Cal Poly Pomona. He successfully balanced budgets during periods of dramatic reductions, yet at the same time boosted morale among faculty and staff. He strengthened academic involvement in development, helping result in a $42 million endowment from the Kellogg Foundation and a comprehensive campaign exceeding its $150 million goal.
Above all else, academic excellence and student success are high priorities for Marten. As the associate provost at Queens College in the City University of New York system, he developed new general education requirements and adapted programs to better prepare students for career success. At Hunter College, where he served as a professor and chair of the Physics Department, Marten led a charge to include writing-intensive courses and diversity requirements in the general education sequence. Valuing hands-on and service learning, he mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students. A physicist by training, Marten’s research focuses on the materials used to store and convert energy, particularly in batteries and fuel cells. He has secured multiple research grants from the Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research. He has served as a reviewer for the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and Department of Defense. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from Calvin College and a doctorate in physics from the University of Maryland. Marten’s expertise in energy storage ties closely to his personal interest in the environment and sustainability. He has volunteered for multiple environmental organizations and commuted by bike every day when he lived in New York. He also has a strong commitment to public service and has volunteered at homeless shelters and facilities providing social services to people in need. He speaks multiple languages and has his own multinational background: born to a Dutch family in France and raised in Canada. I would like to thank the search committee, chaired by Board of Trustees member Sr. Margaret Fitzpatrick, S.C. The committee dedicated many hours to conduct the nationwide search, and I am extremely grateful. I also would like to thank David Miller, dean of the College of Computing and Digital Media, for continuing to serve as the interim provost this academic year. I would like to thank each and every one of you for attending the candidate forums and offering your reflections on our website. The search committee and I read every submission and found them both insightful and inspiring as you reflected on the university and what it most needs from its academic leadership. Your support for Marten’s appointment as provost was overwhelming and heart-warming. Faculty and staff not only offered positive comments about his expertise as a leader and scientist, but also his genial disposition and personal commitments to the mission and values we hold so dear. We look forward to welcoming him into the DePaul family. Respectfully, Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M. President Source: Email to DePaul Community, February 18, 2015

College of Law Interim Dean, Bruce Ottley, named

Dear Colleagues, It is my great pleasure to announce the appointment of Bruce Ottley as Interim Dean of the College of Law, effective June 1, 2014. With more than 40 years of experience, Bruce has an extensive and distinguished career as a lawyer, professor and university administrator. A professor of law, teaching courses in civil procedure, torts, and remedies and products liability, he is the director of the DePaul University-University College Dublin Cooperative Program and co-director of the International Aviation Law Institute. An esteemed expert on tort law, he also conducts seminars for Illinois judges through the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. Bruce served as associate dean for a total of nine years at DePaul, most recently from 1996 to 2000, and as acting dean in 2006, making him familiar with the administrative operations of the college.

Prior to joining DePaul's College of Law in 1978, Bruce taught law at the University of Papua New Guinea, where he also practiced law and served as a judge of the National Capitol District Court. He has published multiple books, not to mention scores of chapters and articles, on such topics as products liability law, Illinois tort law and a wide range of legal topics in the South Pacific islands, Australia and New Zealand. He also is a fellow of the American Anthropological Association. Bruce received a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, a master's degree and law degree from the University of Iowa, and a master of laws from Columbia University. Bruce's wife, Younghee Jin Ottley, is an alumna of DePaul's College of Law and a partner at Winston & Strawn in Chicago. She also serves on the Dean's Advisory Council and the Advisory Board of the International Human Rights Law Institute for the College of Law. I am grateful to Bruce for agreeing to serve as interim dean. His appointment comes after a broad consultation with faculty, staff, students and alumni, where it became abundantly clear that he enjoys the broad respect of his peers. I know the college is in good hands, and I look forward to working closely with him. Sincerely, Patricia O’Donoghue Interim Provost Source: Email to DePaul Community, March 13, 2013

Interim President and Interim Provost Announced

Dear Colleagues,

I’m writing to share a number of leadership decisions following the Board of Trustees meeting held over the weekend. 

1. After 10 years as president, I will be taking an academic leave this fall, from August 1 to December 31, 2014.  Harvard’s Graduate School of Education has offered me its revolving position of “president-in-residence,” where I’ll teach in a graduate course on leadership and governance in higher education and spend the bulk of my time working on a larger writing project.  I’m especially grateful to Dr. Judith McLaughlin, director of Harvard’s graduate program in higher education, for the invitation.  As some of you know, I’ve been privileged to teach in HGSE’s summer Management Development Program since 2008, and this is very much a homecoming for me.   
2. Dr. Patricia O’Donoghue will assume the role of interim president in my absence, and then plans to retire January 1, 2015.  Pat, as you know, has served as vice president for alumni outreach and engagement and interim provost at DePaul in recent years, but also served as chief academic officer of two other universities and as president at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee.    
3. Dr. David Miller will assume the role of interim provost for the 2014-2015 academic year, while retaining his position as dean of the College of Computing and Digital Media. 

During the recent consultation for an interim provost in the 2014-2015 year, Pat’s name rose constantly from all quarters of the university community, asking that she be reappointed for another year.  I spoke with Pat before meeting with our trustees, and she confirmed her intention to retire in January 2015, but agreed to accept this new role if asked.   I trust that your vote of confidence will follow her as she temporarily assumes the presidency. 

After Pat’s, David’s name was most frequent among the university community’s suggestions for interim provost.  A number of respondents spoke of the positive way in which he worked closely with faculty leadership these past two years to help draft a more effective faculty handbook, one that has received the strong endorsement of Faculty Council as each chapter received a vote of approval.  Others noted his quiet, steady leadership of CDM as dean and his long service and knowledge of the university.  I have relied on his knowledge at important moments over the years, finding his judgment balanced and wise.  I am glad that he received such a strong endorsement from the university community, and I know he and Pat will work together well when I am away.

I apologize that I was unable to inform you of my planned academic leave when I first consulted you on the question of selecting an interim provost.  This had to be affirmed by DePaul’s board at its March 1^stmeeting, and the announcement had to be coordinated with Harvard.  I simply couldn’t “announce” something that wasn’t yet finalized in all its aspects.  And yet, I wanted to know your thoughts as the board and I considered the leadership for the coming year. 

During the course of that consultation, more than a few faculty proposed that DePaul consider pushing the search for a new provost into the 2015-2016 academic year, to ensure a strong pool of candidates and to give the interim provost time to undertake and complete some of the more important initiatives before us.  I can see pros and cons to this, and so I welcome your thoughts on the matter.  David has made clear that he will not be a candidate for the permanent position, but that he is willing to serve until a permanent provost is chosen.  If you have thoughts on this question, please send them by April 7^th toSECRETARY@DEPAUL.EDU.    

Finally, I was aware of the campus conversations about whether I was considering applying for the open presidency of our sister school, St. John’s University, where I began my faculty career 25 years ago.  I love SJU, but I did not apply.  DePaul is an extraordinary place, filled with faculty and professional staff who are dedicated to our students and to the great educational mission this institution accomplishes each and every year.  I love our mission and am deeply committed to it.  Even more, I love being part of a community with all of you.  While I am taking time next fall for some writing and relaxation, I am also looking forward to returning with redoubled energy to work alongside you. 

With gratitude and respect for all you do for this great institution,

Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M.
President

Source: Email to DePaul Community, March 5, 2014

Helmut Epp Interviewed

"The Oral History Program at DePaul University is co-sponsored by the Office of Mission and Values and the DePaul Emeritus Society. The program seeks to use the oral history format to document the contributions made to DePaul University by its faculty and staff. Every faculty and staff retiree is invited to participate in this program at the time of their retirement. The length of an oral history interview is usually determined by the comfort level of the interviewee with the oral history format, and the impact of the person’s contributions to the university. Occasionally, the program does a themed set of interviews such as reminiscences about the impact of the great Chicago flood of 1992 on the university. In addition to the documentary and digital records possessed by the university’s archives, oral histories have the advantage of producing a more personal and conversational record that always provides a rich complementary record to more traditional formats. Together, these archived resources will contribute to the present generation’s responsibility to document the university’s history for posterity. The final oral history interviews are edited to maximize sound quality. Each interview is accompanied by a written transcript. In some cases, condensed versions of longer interviews are prepared, but in every case the integrity of the full impact of the dialogue between the interviewing historian and the interviewee is preserved."

The  above is the introduction to the Oral History section on the Mission and Values website.  In addition to the interviews provided by our retirees, Helmut Epp (who one day will be a member of the De Paul Emeritus Society!) has also been interviewed.  Because of his many years of service we thought you might enjoy hearing what others have said about his four decades at DePaul.  Click here to find out more about Dr. Epp.




Photo by Jeff Carrion, Reception 2012

Pope-Davis Resigns as Provost

Email sent to DePaul University Community on Friday, December 13, 2013:

Dear Campus Colleagues,

Effectively immediately and with the approval of the Board of Trustees, I accepted Dr. Donald Pope-Davis' resignation today as provost of DePaul University.

While words cannot express our regret that Don's service as provost was so short lived, I certainly respect his decision.

Don will be afforded a six-month sabbatical, after which he will teach and conduct research as a fully tenured professor in the department of psychology in the College of Science and Health.

Dr. Patricia D. O'Donoghue has agreed to return to the position of interim provost, also effective immediately.

We are grateful to Don for serving as provost these past six months. He cares deeply about DePaul University. Please join me in wishing Don the very best in his future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M.

President

Source: Email sent December 13, 2013 from the Office of the President.

DePaul's New Provost

Dear University Community: It is my great pleasure to announce the appointment of Donald Pope-Davis, Ph.D., as Provost of DePaul University.  Don is an accomplished leader, teacher and scholar, and we are happy to welcome him to DePaul. Don brings 35 years of higher education administrative experience and 30 years of faculty experience to DePaul.  He joins us from the University of Notre Dame, where he is the vice president and associate provost.  In his current role, which he has held since 2007, he leads and manages the faculty recruitment and hiring process, tenure and promotions, mentoring programs for faculty and new programs to prepare faculty leaders to carry out administrative tasks.  Prior to serving as associate provost, Don held senior administrative roles in the Notre Dame Graduate School for five years, including interim dean.

A nationally recognized scholar with a passion for teaching, Don is a professor in the Counseling Psychology Program in the Department of Psychology at Notre Dame.  Recognized in 2008 by the Journal of Counseling Psychology as the third leading contributor to the field of multicultural counseling, his research interests include cultural and racial identity development and cultural competency training. He has published extensively in academic journals, authored three books and is a research fellow in the American Psychological Association.  He recently co-authored the first national survey of African American Catholics, an unprecedented study that revealed significant demographic trends in the church. Don earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Benedictine University and his doctorate in counseling psychology from Stanford University.  He is one of 12 children.   He and his wife, Sara, have three children, David, Daniel and Gabrielle. To learn more about Don, please see his CV and letter to the DePaul community. A Newsline story is also available. In his new role at DePaul, effective July, Don will serve as chief academic officer.  Responsible for the intellectual life of our university, he will oversee Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management and Marketing, and Student Affairs.  Everyone at DePaul was moved by his dedication to students, especially those who are the first to attend college in their families.  I would like to thank the search committee, chaired by Board of Trustees Member and Alumna Connie Curran.  The committee devoted countless hours to conduct a vigorous nationwide search over the course of several months.  I am extremely grateful to them.  When I spoke to Don, he expressed his deep respect for the university’s academic achievements, commitment to diversity and its Catholic-Vincentian identity. We look forward to welcoming him to the DePaul family. Respectfully, Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M. President Email sent to University, February 27, 2013

Pope-Davis Named New DPU Provost

Donald B. Pope-Davis, professor of psychology and for the past six years the vice president and associate provost at the University of Notre Dame, has been elected provost of DePaul University by its Board of Trustees.
 

Pope-Davis will become DePaul’s chief academic officer in July, stepping into the position held on an interim basis this academic year by Patricia O’Donoghue, DePaul’s vice president for alumni outreach and engagement. O’Donoghue succeeded Helmut Epp, who served as provost for the previous seven years.

In the role as DePaul’s provost, Pope-Davis will oversee Academic Affairs, which includes Enrollment Management and Marketing, Student Affairs, and Teaching and Learning Resources.

“We think highly of Dr. Pope-Davis’ intellectual work as well as his broad service to his colleagues in academic administration at Notre Dame,” said the Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, C.M., president. “Unanimously, everyone at DePaul also was moved by his obvious love for students, especially those who are the first to attend college in their families.”

Elected to his current position at Notre Dame in 2007, Pope-Davis currently is responsible for expanding opportunities and participation in undergraduate scholarship and research, implementing the Undergraduate Academic Code of Honor and leading the university’s enrollment management efforts by overseeing the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Services. He also provides oversight to the university’s First Year of Studies, ROTC programs, Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement, Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars Program, Office of Disability Services, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, Snite Museum of Art, Institute for Church Life and Center for Social Concerns.

His other administrative experience at Notre Dame includes coordination of the Multicultural Research Institute, direction of the TRIO programs – the McNair Scholars Program, Upward Bound and Talent Search, all federally funded educational opportunity outreach programs designed to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds –and the leadership of the Moreau Academic Diversity Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, an initiative to attract scholars from underrepresented groups to Notre Dame for research and engagement of issues related to multiculturalism and diversity. Pope-Davis served for three years as chair of Notre Dame’s Faculty Board on Athletics and its NCAA faculty athletics representative. He also has served on the provost’s advisory and diversity committees.

A member of the Notre Dame faculty since 2000, Pope-Davis studies in the areas of multicultural psychology, counseling and education. Specifically, he is interested in cultural and racial identity development, cultural competency training, development and assessment. Other areas of research include multicultural supervision in professional psychology, development of multicultural measures for assessing environments and supervision, issues of mental health of people of color and cross-cultural communications.

Pope-Davis recently co-authored a report on African-American Catholics in 2011. The largest sampling ever of its kind, the survey examined the religious engagement of African-Americans with the Catholic Church and identified demographic trends facing the church.

Pope-Davis earned his doctorate in counseling psychology from Stanford University, his master’s degree from Indiana University and his bachelor’s degree in psychology and theology from Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill. He previously taught and conducted research at the University of Maryland for six years and the University of Iowa for five years.

For the full article, click here.

DePaul Newsline, February 26, 2013