St. Bonaventure has decided to halt the university’s search for a permanent provost, extending Joseph Zimmer’s tenure as interim provost to December 2017. Although Zimmer’s state his official title contract will be time limited, he will have full control of the office.
The decision was made to pause the search for a new provost in order to provide the university with some stability as it prepares to look for a new president.
“I was involved as a candidate in the search, so I was not in on all the discussions leading to the suspension, but after it was suspended by Sr. Margaret, she explained to me that it was important to have some stability in the provost’s office as we transition to a new president this summer,” Zimmer said. “As a 23-year faculty member, she believed my knowledge of institutional history was essential to the on-boarding of the new president.”
Zimmer will also continue to work with Sr. Margaret before any decisions regarding a new provost are made.
“I agreed to remain in the provost and VPAA (Vice President of Academic Affairs) position until December 2017 to provide that stability and to give the new president and me an opportunity to work together before we would take any further steps with the position,” Zimmer said.
Zimmer said he can’t wait to be a part of the new changes taking place at St. Bonaventure.
“I am excited to continue working with my colleagues on the challenges facing St. Bonaventure and almost every private college in our region. We have an incredible dynamic of tradition versus change that is pushing us to maintain our high quality education and branch out into new areas such and cyber security and online master’s degrees in business and J/MC,” Zimmer said. “It’s exciting being part of the creation of ‘Bonaventure 2.0.’”
Zimmer’s work (in positions such as Faculty Senate Chair, director of the graduate literacy program, dean of the school of education) at Bonaventure is something that has not got unnoticed by his colleagues, including search committee member Adam Brown.
“Dr. Zimmer has demonstrated for years that he is dedicated, hardworking, and willing to collaborate with faculty, staff and administration,” Brown said.
Although Bonaventure will soon start the search for a new, permanent provost, there is no set timetable for when the university will begin exploring its options.
“There is no set date, however the idea is to search and secure a new president. Presumably the new president will have some input on the provost position,” Brown said. “It is very important that the new president and the provost work effectively and efficiently.”
mackreec15@bonaventure.edu
