CoSM Dean selected as interim provost for Wright State | Photo provided by Wright State Newsroom
As the semester ends, changes in administration will begin to take place. Current Provost Dr. Susan Edwards will be stepping into the position of Wright State University’s eighth president in January.
Edwards announced the interim provost on Monday, Dec. 9 during WSU’s Faculty Senate meeting.
Who is Dr. Douglas Leaman?
Dr. Douglas Leaman is the current dean of the College of Science and Mathematics.
He stepped into the role in 2016, after having been at the University of Toledo as chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. He has also been a project scientist at the Cleveland clinic and scientific director of Gemini Technologies, according to a release from Wright State Newsroom.
Leaman will become the interim provost on Jan. 1.
"Under Dr. Leaman's leadership, the Wright State College of Science and Mathematics has fostered an environment aimed at providing all students with hands-on opportunities to conduct meaningful work in their chosen field, including identifying undergraduate research, internship, externship, co-op or shadowing opportunities,” said Edwards. “The college strives to instill within its students an innovative spirit that encourages new, interdisciplinary ways of thinking to identify solutions to long-standing problems. Dean Leaman believes in creating a learning environment that provides students with the opportunities and skills needed to succeed in the classroom and beyond.”
Leaman has a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences and a master’s degree in molecular growth and development from Ohio State University.
He earned his Ph.D. in molecular biology/reproductive physiology from the University of Missouri, according to Wright State Newsroom.
"It is the university's intention to conduct a search in fall 2020 for the permanent position of provost. In the meantime, please join me in giving Dr. Leaman a warm welcome in his new role," said Edwards.
Edwards reached out to the faculty senate executive committee when making the decision for interim provost.
“We work so closely with the provost, who is the chief academic officer at the university. Having the current provost reach out looking for the next provost was definitely appreciated,” said Laura Leurhmann, president of Faculty Senate.
According to Leuhrmann, the committee discussed what qualities would be important in an interim provost.
“Dr. Leaman exhibits the traits that many of the faculty members believed are going to be necessary in an interim provost. He was received very positively,” said Leurhmann.
Leaman’s previous work in COSM has proven himself to the committee, according to Leurhmann.
“Faculty senate is traditionally very closely involved in most of the searches in the university, of course any that touch on curriculum and academic search committees. We’ve had a role in the past and I expect to continue that in the future,” said Leurhmann.
