Provost Search

Currently, the position description is being drafted. After a review of the job description by the search committee and approval from the president, the role and specific responsibilities of the position will be posted on this site.

Applications must include a curriculum vitae and cover letter that addresses the candidate’s qualifications, vision for the position, and potential approaches in dealing with challenges in higher education, and specific issues pertaining to Oakland University.

For confidential nominations, please contact Glenn McIntosh, [email protected], Virginia Horvath, [email protected], or Maria Thompson, [email protected].

Oakland University seeks a collaborative, experienced, entrepreneurial, and dedicated academic affairs leader to serve as its next Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. The seasoned professional will have a record of strategic thinking, creative energy, sound judgment, superior communication skills, and be responsible for leading the academic affairs division. 

Furthermore, the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost is responsible for the administration of academic departments and programs, and serves as a member of the President’s cabinet and senior leadership team.

The next Provost will be expected to strategically allocate current resources, develop new resources to meet the university’s mission, vision and strategic plan, and help realize Oakland’s commitment to advancing research and supporting a faculty of accomplished teacher-scholars.

The successful Provost candidate will possess a distinguished record of teaching and scholarship commensurate with full professor status at Oakland; a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion; experience in senior academic administration with a record of supporting undergraduate student success and excellence in graduate education and scholarship; the ability to manage change within a unionized environment and shared governance; and a passion for public higher education.

Oakland University encourages all qualified applicants to apply and be assured that there shall be no discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, disability, creed, sexual orientation, veteran status or other prohibited factors in employment, admissions, educational programs or activities.

Oakland University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work-life balance irrespective of, race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation.

On July 1, 2017, Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, M.D. became Oakland University’s seventh president. President Pescovitz has more than 30 years of experience leading change in academic health centers and universities, delivering innovations in bench-to-bedside discovery and facilitating collaborations between academic and community partners. 

Among other roles, President Pescovitz has served as Senior Vice President and U.S. Medical Leader for Eli Lilly and Company, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs at University of Michigan, and President and CEO of Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana.

A renowned pediatric endocrinologist and researcher who has published more than 190 papers and books, President Pescovitz is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and is a sought-after speaker on a range of topics, including healthcare, leadership, diversity and women’s issues.

The tenure of President Pescovitz runs through 2031.

Oakland University is governed by an eight-member Board of Trustees appointed by the governor to serve eight-year terms. The board provides general supervision of the university, including control and direction of all expenditures from the institution's funds.

The Oakland University Senate is an all-university governance body whose membership includes administrative officers, students and faculty members elected for two-year terms to represent their academic units. The Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost is the presiding officer.

The Senate recommends new degree programs to the president and the board and must approve the constitutions of colleges and schools. It determines academic policies and provides opportunity for public deliberation on issues of importance to the university.

Glenn McIntosh, Chair
Senior VP, Student Affairs & Chief Diversity Officer

Polly D. Boruff-Jones, Dean
University Libraries

Berkley Browne, Associate Dean
OUWB School of Medicine

Christopher Coleman, Dean
School of Nursing

Peggy Cooke, Associate Vice Provost
Academic Affairs

Joi Cunningham, Vice President
Human Resources

Caress Dean, Associate Professor & Dept. Chair
Health Sciences

Red Douglas, Student

Martha Escobar, Professor
Psychology

Darlene Groomes, Associate Dean
School of Education

Elisabeth Hoegberg, Associate Dean
College of Arts & Sciences

Bhavani Koneru, Chief Information Officer

Shane Lewis, Director
Undergraduate Admissions

James Naus, Associate Professor & Dept. Chair
History

Richard Olawoyin, Professor
Engineering

Brandy Randall, Dean
Graduate School

David Stone, Vice President
Research

Jennifer Thor, Associate Professor
Management

Steve Waterfield, Athletics Director

NOTE: The position will be open until filled. 

STAGE: Preparation

• Search Committee meets with Academic Search
• Review expectations, goals and process
• Consultants conduct listening sessions with campus stakeholder groups

STAGE: Search Launch

• Job Description/Profile: Draft, review, edit and approve
• Job opening posted on campus, advertised on key websites, and strategic outreach commences

STAGE: Recruitment & Application Review

• Consultants/search committee develops “candidate assessment rubric” and interview questions.
• Search committee reviews and discusses candidates’ applications

STAGE: Interviews

• Consultants/search committee select 8-10 candidates from pool
• Interviews set with candidates
• Top candidates recommended for “finalist interviews”

STAGE: On-campus Visit/Presentation

• Due diligence conducted on finalists
• Finalists visit campus for 1-2 days to meet with range of groups

STAGE: Hire

• President make official offer
• Approval of contract by Board of Trustees
• New Provost hired and assumes position

Oakland University is a public doctoral research institution in southeastern Michigan. As one of 15 public universities in the state of Michigan, Oakland cultivates the full potential of a diverse and inclusive community.

The university is organized across seven academic units, including College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business Administration, the School of Education and Human Services, the School of Engineering and Computer Science, the School of Health Sciences, the School of Nursing, the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, and the university libraries.

Today, Oakland has more than 16,000 students, 600 full-time and 595 part-time faculty and offers more than 140 bachelor’s degree programs and 130 doctoral, master’s degree and certificate programs.

Recognized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions in Higher Education as an R2 doctoral institution, Oakland has a dedicated faculty and staff passionate about learning, academic discovery, community engagement, and diversity. In addition, Oakland recently achieved Carnegie status for its community engagement programs, and received AASCU’s 2023 award for being a “model community engagement university.”

Founded as Michigan State University-Oakland in 1957 following a donation from the Matilda and Alfred Wilson estate, Oakland University has grown into a student-centered research institution with a global perspective. Operating independently since 1970, the University serves a diverse student population and the institution is woven deeply into its surrounding community. 

Located in the heart of Oakland County’s Automation Alley, the University has strategic partnerships with hospitals, Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and educational institutions.

For more information on Oakland University, visit www.oakland.edu.