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The right fit
New Provost says initiatives and leadership attracted her to
CMU.
Julia E. Wallace received the notice that CMU was closed as she prepared for her second day as university provost.
“I was new, so I was going in no matter what,” Wallace said when she heard of the January 8 power outage. “It was quite a hectic day, but I was able to meet so many of the university administrators because we were all involved in developing a plan.”
As she had dinner at the end of that day in the Dining Commons with Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services David Burdette, President Michael Rao, his wife Monica and their son Miguel, the lights came back on.
“Everyone, including the students, was so happy. It was really a great moment,” she said. “I was really impressed with everyone’s problem-solving skills in that situation.”
Wallace, formerly the dean of the University of Northern Iowa’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences since 2000, assumed the role of university provost January 7. The New York native took over for Thomas Storch, who retired in 2007.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the State University of New York at Oswego, master’s and doctoral degrees in experimental psychology from SUNY at Binghamton, and a master’s degree in preventive medicine and environmental health from the University of Iowa.
“What drew me to CMU was the institution’s unified sense of purpose to provide high quality academic programs in a personalized environment. I look forward to working with the university community in leading CMU to its next level of academic excellence,” she said.
Focus going forward will be beyond 2010. Wallace said that she has watched CMU’s progress for a number of years and has noticed a difference.
“It is amazing what has been done in a few years with the 2010 initiatives. I can attest that CMU is nationally known,” she said. “When I accepted this job, I was sent congratulations from my fellow members of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences, and they all said what a great university this is.”
Wallace said as the university moves beyond 2010, she’d like to keep the priorities already in place – including teaching and learning, diversity and global perspectives, research and creative activity, public service, and culture of integrity.
“It is my responsibility to provide academic vision and leadership that ensures each student is offered an excellent educational experience,” Wallace said. “I will keep the Academic Division moving forward with all its initiatives.”
She said she also is ready to look to the future. “2010 will be here before we know it. Now we need to look to where we will go next,” Wallace said.
Goals she will encourage the campus to establish for CMU’s future include ensuring that students have some type of international education experience. She also discussed a guidance system for sophomores.
“We have First Year Experience for freshmen, which I think is wonderful, but we need a program to assist sophomores in planning out their next two years.” Wallace said the community, the people, and being back in the Eastern Time Zone after 29 years have made her feel welcome.
“I know I am in the right place at the right time.” •
