 "Photo: Lisle Alderton")
Maureen Grasso, dean of the Graduate School at the University of Georgia and candidate for provost and senior vice president, began her presentation Monday at the Alumni Center by offering to engage the audience in a conversation.
“I want to hear your questions,” she said.
What commenced was an in-depth look at Grasso and what qualifications she would bring to the job if she were selected.
To Grasso, the most important thing a provost does is to “understand and become assimilated into the culture.”
She noted her experience at past institutions, including the University of Georgia where she has served as dean of the Graduate School since 2002. At the University of Georgia, one in four students are graduate students according to her curriculum vitae. Prior to that she had served as interim dean and associate dean of the Graduate School at the University Of North Carolina at Greensboro from 1998-2002.
The importance of maximizing the learning environment for students and exposure to international opportunities was also emphasized. The critical nature of study abroad opportunities, a global curriculum and inclusion of international students was cited in terms of international opportunities that await graduates.
“That experience is transformative,” she said.
Grasso said the role of land-grant institutions has left an impact on her, a first generation college student. Increased involvement with the land-grant mission led to greater education of the power of the experience, she said.
“The land-grant mission is the backbone of higher education,” she said.
Shared governance was also emphasized during her presentation. Grasso said she had experienced this through her role as chair of the Faculty Senate at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro from 1997-1998. Making sure faculty remain engaged is important because of the wealth of knowledge and information, she said.
Dena Bunnel, senior in agricultural communications, journalism, international studies and political science and chief of staff for the student body president, said she is interested in what students’ role in the shared governance structure might be.
“It’s very, very important to maintain that level of student input on the decisions that are made on this campus,” Bunnel said. “That’s a tradition of excellence we have here at K-State and it’s very important we continue that.”
The importance of the freshmen and first-year experience played a prominent role in Grasso’s presentation.
“We can lose them if we are not careful,” she said.
Grasso extolled Georgia’s Freshman Seminar course in the process. At Georgia, the whole faculty is involved she said and is able to share their passion with undergraduates.
“I love the science of chocolate, it’s a food science one and I’m ready to sign up,” she said with a laugh.
Resource management took a central role in light of budget woes throughout higher education. Grasso explained the various approaches the Graduate School at the University of Georgia had undertaken. Included were partnerships with companies and looking to private dollars to expand professorships. Along with this, she emphasized the importance of transparency.
“So that there are no questions about how decisions are made,” she said.
She closed by noting it would be honor to serve as provost in this “incredible community.”
“I would be a strong advocate for K-State,” Grasso said.
John English, dean of the College of Engineering and chair of the search committee, said the search is wrapping up. Upon completion of the fourth candidate’s presentation, the search committee will gather data including survey input and campus information and analyze the data. A list of qualified candidates will be provided to the president with strengths and weaknesses.
“Then it will be in the president’s hands, he’s in the position to select who he’d like to be the next provost at K-State,” English said.
