The Gustavus Adolphus College community welcomes Mary E. Morton to campus as its new Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Morton, who assumed this leadership position July 2, 2007, oversees academic programs and strategic planning for the college. She is also responsible for representing and advancing the college’s academic programs externally and internally.
“We are delighted that she has joined our team, as her dedication to academic excellence is obvious,” Gustavus President Jim Peterson said. She will play a vital role in helping the college meet its strategic goals, especially in the areas of academic planning and institutional development.”
Morton holds a doctorate in biochemistry from Dartmouth Medical School and also earned bachelor’s degrees with magna cum laude honors in biochemistry and romance languages from Bowdoin College. Most recently, Morton spent three years at the University of Dayton, where she served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and as a Professor of Biology. Prior to that, she served as Associate Dean of the College and as a tenured faculty member for 13 years at the College of Holy Cross.
At Dayton, Morton was praised for helping to redesign the undergraduate curriculum to ensure that it more strongly reflected the institution’s values and traditions. She increased the percentage of first-year students taught by full-time faculty, and she emphasized recognition of faculty scholarship and research.
“I am delighted to join the Gustavus community and the community of St. Peter,” Morton said. “The strong reputation of Gustavus as a distinctive liberal arts college in the Lutheran tradition serves as a foundation upon which we will collaboratively build for future generations of students.”
Morton continued, “I am both humbled and energized to join the campus leadership group, work with President Peterson, and contribute to our shared commitment to academic excellence, social justice, faith, leadership, and service.”
At Gustavus, Morton oversees all academic departments as well as the office of the Registrar, the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation, International Education, and Technology Services. Morton is supported by two Academic Deans, Eric Eliason and Mariangela Maguire.
By a unanimous vote on March 19, the Gustavus Adolphus College Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Mary E. Morton as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
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