Dear TU faculty & staff:

As we soon begin a new fiscal year, I am pleased to announce some important updates to the leadership of our university.

As shared this spring, we are excited to welcome Dr. Prabakar Kothandaraman, who will serve as Dean of the College of Business and Economics starting on July 2. Provost Melanie Perreault and I extend our sincere appreciation to our colleague, Dr. Judy Harris, for her exemplary service to our university as CBE鈥檚 Interim Dean.

I am also delighted to announce that Dr. Sidd Kaza, who has had a dual role as Dean of Graduate Studies and Associate Provost for Research, will begin an important new role of Vice President for Research. In this position, he will focus on our continuing trajectory to attain our goal of becoming an R2 institution that is highly engaged in research, scholarship and the creative arts. As we continue this path, I believe, consistent with the structure for most peer research universities, that it is imperative that our university has a senior leader focused on these areas. I am confident in Dr. Kaza and am very pleased that he will lead the growing research enterprise at TU. He will also continue to serve as a member of the President鈥檚 Cabinet and University Council. He will continue to report directly to Provost Perreault.

Additionally, as part of this transition, Dr. David Ownby will serve as Interim Dean for Graduate Studies. Dr. Ownby has served as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies since 2022, and Interim Dean for two years before that, helping to promote TU鈥檚 growth in our graduate education programs. We are grateful to Dr. Ownby for stepping into this interim role, and his continued service as a member of our University Council. We expect to launch a national search for the Dean of Graduate Studies.

I am fully confident in and appreciative of our university鈥檚 leadership. I know you will join me in welcoming these individuals to their new positions and leadership roles at TU.

As I begin my third academic year as President, I extend my sincere thanks to our entire university community for your personal support and for your continuing support of our university and of each other. Indeed, TU is a remarkable university and a special place.

I wish you a safe, healthy, relaxing and enjoyable summer. Go Tigers!

Sincerely,

Mark R. Ginsberg, Ph.D.
President