A new provost, M. David Rudd, has been chosen to join the University of Memphis, effective in late March of this year. He will serve as the leader of academic affairs and report directly to President Shirley Raines.
The search for a candidate was conducted by a committee headed by Richard Ranta, dean of the U of M's College of Communication and Fine Arts. The final decision was made by Raines.
Rudd has served as dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Science at the University of Utah for the past four years.
"I have been exposed across the full continuum of what happens on a university campus," Rudd said.
His work as dean at a large college has provided him years of experience with faculty, administration, curriculum and fundraising. He helped to raise more than $13 million for the University of Utah.
Rudd has also served as chair for four different departments and as scientific director for the National Center for Veterans Studies. He is an active researcher with over 170 publications and has written several books.
He has served as a consultant to many organizations, including the United States Air Force and Army, the Department of Defense and the Beijing Suicide Prevention and Research Center.
Rudd received his bachelor's degree from Princeton University. He completed his doctoral training at the University of Texas at Austin and his post-doctoral fellowship in cognitive therapy at the Beck Institute in Philadelphia.
Rudd already has plans for the University which include helping to provide students opportunities for internships and work experience in the fields they are studying.
"The idea of providing a high quality, meaningful, impactful experience that is tied to a career, a job, graduate and professional education is one part of that," Rudd said. "I also hope to help move the University forward in terms of being responsive to this evolving and changing higher education model."
Rudd also intends to improve upon the scholarship and research components of the University.
"One of the things that I think is important to remember about public research universities is that the research component of that can enrich the experience of the student both at the undergraduate, as well as the graduate level," Rudd said.
Rudd intends to create a continuous, open dialogue with the student body at the University, either through student town hall meetings or with a student advisory board like one he developed at the University of Utah.
"I found [the student advisory board] remarkably helpful, to have predictable, regular contact with students to talk about issues that have bearing on the lives and experiences of the students at the University," Rudd said.
Rudd, who begins his work at the University in late March, will replace Ralph Faudree, who resigned last August, and Tom Nenon, who is serving as interim provost.
"I am excited about it. It is a great opportunity, and I am looking forward to it," Rudd said.
