Provost appointed

By Matt Rupel

One year after Provost Lucia Gilbert stepped down from her position, Santa Clara has found someone to fill the spot.

Santa Clara President Fr. Michael Engh, S.J., announced Dr. Dennis Jacobs as the the campus' new provost for academic life in a campus—wide email.

"I'm very excited, and think that for the university he's a great choice," said Don Dodson, the interim provost who has filled the seat while Santa Clara searched for a new provost.

The search for a new provost began in December 2010, when the official Provost Search Committee  worked with an independant firm called Academic Search, Inc. to get 55 people who applied for the job. The Search Committee narrowed this list down to a total of four candidates who then visited the campus to meet with students, staff and faculty at the beginning of the spring quarter.

"The provost runs the day—today workings of the university," said the Vice Chair of the Provost Search Committee Michelle Marvier in March. "They are the person who is really in charge of the quality of the academic programs on campus, the quality of student life programs on campus, they are also supervising athletics," she said. "It's a huge job!"

According to Dodson, Jacobs has the qualities that make him fit for the position. "I think he brings  great experience, great skills, a lot of energy and vision," he said.

According to his resume, Jacobs  has a number of experiences in the academic field since 1988 that would contribute to his position as provost. Most notably, Jacobs served as the vice president and associate provost of undergraduate studies at the Universsity of Notre Dame.

Vice Provost Jeanne Rosenberger said that she felt his accomplishments at Notre Dame would bring valuable experience to Santa Clara.

"I think he really understands the importance of Catholic higher education, and I think that's something he really brings to it," she said.

According to Dodson, Jacob's experiences mean that he will help the university follow its mission of justice in the Catholic tradition.

"Fom a student perspective, I would not expect any immediate, dramtic changes," he said. "He's familiar with the university's misssion as a Jesuit institution and he's clear with the university's recently approved strategic plan."

According to the press release, Jacobs will be reporting directly to the president of the university and he will begin his duties as provost this summer when he moves to the Bay Area.

Contact Matt Rupel at mrupel@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4849.