DETROIT, June 26, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. David Fike, president of Marygrove College, announces the appointment of Dr. Edward Thompson III, PhD, as provost, effective June 4, 2007.
He serves as Marygrove's chief operating officer with responsibility for all academic programs and activities related to the education of students through Student Affairs. He will also serve as lead decision maker in the president's absence.
Dr. Thompson, who completed an American Council on Education (ACE) training course titled "Ascending to the Presidency" in October 2006, served as vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of Faculty at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, GA, from 2002 to 2005. While at Armstrong, Dr. Thompson focused on enhanced student learning outcomes, the professional development of the faculty and securing external grants to support academic and student programs.
At California State University (CSU) San Marcos from 2000 to 2002, Dr. Thompson served as assistant vice president for Academic Affairs and chair of the Political Science Department. As a faculty member, he chaired the Academic Senate at CSU San Marcos; was an academic senator on the CSU Statewide Academic Senate; chaired the CSU Statewide Fiscal and Government Affairs Committee; and served as president of the CSU San Marcos chapter of the California Faculty Association. He has also held tenure track faculty positions at the University of California Davis and the University of Louisville.
Dr. Thompson received his Bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1971 from the University of Arizona and, in 1982, his PhD in political science from Howard University in Washington, D.C. He was an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow where he worked in the office of Senator Wendell Ford in 1985-1986 and an ACE Fellow at Arizona State University where he worked with Dr. Milt Glick in 1999-2000.
His research in the areas of urban and ethnic politics, voting and energy policy has appeared in such publications as: Social Science Quarterly, Publius, Urban Studies, The National Political Science Review, Journal of Ethnic Studies, Sage Press and Yale University Press.
President Dr. David Fike said, "Dr. Thompson brings significant academic and civic leadership experience to Marygrove that fits uniquely well with our College's strategic vision of Urban Leadership. His solid administrative and faculty experience will assist us in preparing students to assume leadership positions in their chosen fields in Detroit, the metropolitan area and nation."
Marygrove College is a private liberal arts college located at 8425 West McNichols Road in Detroit. More than 1,200 students attend classes in its undergraduate and graduate programs in education, business, human resources management, social justice, social work, science, the fine arts and many others. Roughly 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marygrove online and distance learning Master in the Art of Teaching program and more than 5,000 in its non-credit programs. Call 866-313-1927 for additional information or visit www.marygrove.edu.
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Editor's Note: A hi-res photo of Dr. Thompson is available at www.marygrove.edu/news.