By unanimous vote, the trustees of Gustavus Adolphus College on March 19 approved the appointment of Mary E. Morton, Ph.D., as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, effective July 1, 2007.
In this position, Morton will oversee academic programs and strategic planning for the college. She will also be responsible for representing and advancing the college’s academic programs to internal and external constituencies.
Morton, who holds a doctorate in biochemistry from Dartmouth Medical School, also earned bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and romance languages from Bowdoin College.
Most recently, she 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, Morton served for 13 years at the College of Holy Cross, as a tenured faculty member and as Associate Dean of the College.
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.
“After a broad and extensive search, we are confident that Dr. Mary Morton is the right person to become the college’s next chief academic officer,” Gustavus President Jim Peterson said. “We are delighted that she will join our team, as her dedication to academic excellence is obvious. She will play a vital role in helping the college meet its strategic goals, especially in the areas of academic planning and institutional development.”
“I am delighted to be joining 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 will also oversee all academic departments as well as the office of the Registrar, the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation, International Education, and Technology Services. Morton will be supported by two Deans of the Faculty.
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