Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Shane Martin, PhD, as Provost of Seattle University. Currently serving as dean of both the School of Education and Graduate Studies at our sister Jesuit institution Loyola Marymount University (LMU), Shane brings extraordinary experience in higher education, a lifelong commitment to Jesuit values and a vision for moving our university forward to meet the opportunities and challenges before us. He will join Seattle University on June 18.

Shane is a tested and proven academic leader. As dean he has brought visionary thinking and a spirit of innovation to his work in building, strengthening and supporting academic programs. Under his leadership, LMU’s School of Education has come into its own as a nationally ranked and highly regarded school and, since 2012, he has led Graduate Studies in strategically setting priorities and growing its program offerings.

With the student experience always at the heart of his work, Shane is committed to enhancing learning opportunities, advancing diversity and inclusion and ensuring that faculty are supported in their work and continued development. He has deep experience in ensuring faculty voices are heard, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, harnessing the power of technology in ways that align with the university’s mission and managing complex budgets.

At LMU, Shane’s leadership has frequently been sought on a number of critical initiatives. His service has included chairing the committee that guided the university’s accreditation process as well as a committee on technology. A leader in the wider education community, he has served as chair and member of many boards, including his current service as a state commissioner to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Shane’s commitment to Jesuit higher education is integral to who he is as an educator, administrator and person. A product of Jesuit education, Shane has led a number of national Catholic and Jesuit organizations, including service as past president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Education Deans Conference, past chair of the Association of Graduate Schools in Catholic Colleges and Universities and past chair of the American Educational Research Association Special Interest Group on Catholic Education. As he shared during his visit with us last month, Shane understands keenly both the challenges now confronting all institutions of higher education and how Jesuit colleges and universities, in particular, are uniquely positioned to navigate and thrive in this climate.

At his core an educator and prolific scholar, Shane has authored three books and has contributed to many peer-reviewed publications on the topics of cultural diversity in Catholic schools, technology and learning, social justice in education and multicultural education. Additionally, he has received numerous awards and distinctions for his excellence as a leader and educator, including as a 2015 fellow of the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship.

As we look forward to welcoming Shane into our academic community, I want to recognize and thank in a special way the members of the Provost Search Committee, including co-chairs Maria Bullon-Fernandez and Tim Leary, for their tremendous efforts in bringing this process to a successful conclusion. Thanks also to those who attended the open forums with the candidates and provided insightful feedback. Please know that all of your views were integral in making this important decision.

On behalf of the whole university, I want to express gratitude to Bob Dullea who is providing outstanding direction for our university as Interim Provost. On so many priorities and initiatives, we have not had the luxury of pressing pause and waiting for our next sitting provost to arrive. Bob has been critical in ensuring we keep moving forward together in meeting our challenges and embracing opportunities. I especially admire the manner in which he has listened so attentively and acted so thoughtfully in his relationships with the entire university community. I know that you join me in expressing heartfelt thanks to Bob for his continued leadership.

And finally, while we eagerly await Shane’s arrival on campus, I am pleased to convey the following words he asked me to share with you:

“I am honored and humbled to become the next provost at Seattle University, an institution that has a strong reputation as a premier university in the Northwest and is poised to rise to greater heights. I look forward to working in partnership with the Seattle University students, faculty, staff and alumni who are making a difference throughout the greater Seattle region, the United States and the world.”

Sincerely,

Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J.
President