Provost's Office Organization

October 27, 2004

Dear Tufts Community,

It has been two years since I arrived at Tufts, and in this time I have had a chance to assess how the Provost's Office can best serve the University. We have not increased the net number of people in the office, apart from appointments made in research administration, but there have been some promotions, changes in responsibility and a few new faces. The current office brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the University, and I would like to take this opportunity to briefly introduce the Provost Office team.

Peggy Newell has been promoted to the position of Vice Provost. From the moment I arrived, Peggy has functioned in a wide range of capacities well beyond her former position. As Vice Provost, Peggy will retain all of the responsibilities that she has had for the last six years as Associate Provost for Research and will also serve as deputy to the Provost, assisting me on a broad range of issues. She will work with me in the strategic development of University priorities, oversee the Office of the Boards of Overseers, and chair the committee that is looking at the organization and budgets of Arts, Sciences and Engineering.

Vin Manno has replaced Ioannis Miaoulis as Associate Provost. Vin is Professor of Mechanical Engineering and served as Associate Dean and Interim Dean of the School of Engineering. Vin will begin this year with a limited role as the Provost's Office liaison to the University Council on Graduate Education as he completes a previously scheduled and well-deserved sabbatical. When he returns from sabbatic leave, he will assume an additional responsibility of overseeing the interdisciplinary programs that report to the Provost's Office and chairing the Interdisciplinary Programs Council.

Liz Canny has been promoted to Senior Assistant Provost for Faculty Administration. Her wisdom and extraordinary institutional knowledge have been invaluable to me. Liz has primary responsibility for the oversight of all academic appointments. She works with the schools and the Trustees Office on matters related to the tenure and promotion process, appointment letters and faculty contracts, and school and University bylaws. In addition to these responsibilities, Liz serves as office manager for the Provost's Office and assists me with a variety of special projects.

Elise Ahyi has recently joined the Provost's Office as Assistant Provost. She will work with the Provost and Vice Provost on a variety of initiatives and special projects, including academic priority setting and strategic planning. Elise will represent the Provost's Office on University-wide initiatives related to enhancing diversity, working with a number of offices and committees to advance this goal. She will also serve as the Provost's Office representative on projects related to facilities planning and campus improvement.

In addition to these changes, Mary Lee will continue to serve as Associate Provost, while also serving as Dean for Educational Affairs at the School of Medicine. The focus of Mary's position in the Provost's Office is on teaching, information technology, and the libraries, including Digital Collections and Archives and University Library Technology Services. Mary oversees the University Committee on Teaching and Faculty Development and related activities and serves as co-chair of the Information Technology Council.

Molly Stutzman, Executive Assistant to the Provost, joined the office last year. Molly works with me on a broad spectrum of projects. She launched the summer scholars program and organized successful searches for new deans for the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, the School of Medicine, and the School of Engineering. She serves as a liaison to several other offices, and manages numerous other programs and projects.

Marcella Tanona will continue as Administrative Assistant in the Provost's Office handling my calendar, tracking budget commitments and handling a variety of other office duties. Marcella is the glue that keeps the office together, and her dedication and good humor have helped keep the office going through a couple of very busy years.

Linda Chamberlain, Administrative Director of the Boards of Overseers office, had been on medical leave over the past year and recently passed away after more than 25 dedicated years of service to Tufts. Melanie Deas and Nancy Humphrey in the Boards of Overseers office have ably taken on additional responsibilities during this challenging period. They will now report to the Vice Provost.

Deborah Nutter, Senior Associate Dean at the Fletcher School, has stepped in on a part-time basis as Advisor to the Provost to manage the International Board of Overseers. She has helped bring a new focus and purpose to this board and has organized the Tufts in the World program.

We have made some changes in the office that supports research administration in order to better meet the needs of the faculty. These changes include the addition of a Director of Research Administration, Paul Murphy, a grant writer, Peg Atkisson, and a proposal coordinator, Therese Vallese. These three individuals have each made a terrific contribution already, and their efforts have paid off with a number of exciting new proposals submitted and some significant successes. We have also recently hired two Associate Directors in the Medford Office of Grants and Contracts, Helen Page and Christine Woodrufe, who will target funding for faculty, create science teams and hold seminars in addition to their grants and contracts functions. These new hires will further our goal of providing more and better services to assist faculty with research funding.

Best regards,

Jamshed Bharucha
Provost and Senior Vice President