New provost 'enthusiastic' about working at UM-Flint
Sirius Welch
Issue date: 3/16/10 Section: Campus
Gerard Voland has been selected to be UM-Flint’s next provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. He was selected by Chancellor Ruth Person after the Provost Search Committee narrowed down the list of candidates to three.
“I am so happy and enthusiastic about my new role at UM-Flint,” Voland said. “My sense is that the University and the city are working together to build a more robust community, and I am very eager to join in this effort.”
Voland earned his Ph.D. in engineering design from Tufts University in 1989. “I wanted to have a positive impact on people’s lives,” Voland said. “Engineers always have clients in need of better solutions to technical problems, so I felt that the fruits of my work as an engineer would always have value.”
Voland comes to UM-Flint from Indiana University- Purdue University, where he was Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science. During his time there, faculty has increased more than 20 percent and overall productivity and enrollments also increased. The Student Success Center was also created during his time there. It is a program designed to have professional counselors work with faculty advisors to support students academically and personally.
As provost, Voland will be the chief academic officer responsible for UM-Flint’s academic programs and scholarly pursuits. He will also be in charge of forming constructive alliances with faculty and helping them find necessary resources and leading students to success.
“I am very interested in his work in developing new academic programs, since that is always an area that we want to expand to meet the needs of students,” Person said. “In addition, his work at securing research dollars for projects is important and I look forward to learning more about his experiences in that particular area.”
According to Voland, the three elements needed to successfully secure external financial support are to have a proposal full of merit that people fully support, a plan of implementation, and mutual interest and benefits for all parties. “If those three elements are in place, funds can be secured,” Voland said.
“Dr. Voland was the best prepared of all the candidates and had the most comprehensive knowledge of UM-Flint and this region,” said D.J. Trela, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and member of the Provost Search Committee. “I look forward to working alongside Dr. Voland in future years and am eager to welcome him both to the University, but also to this community. I believe he will have a profound, positive impact on both.”
“The division of student affairs eagerly awaits his arrival, and stands prepared to assist, support and collaborate,” said Mary Jo Sekelsky, vice chancellor for student services and enrollment management. “There has never been a better time to be at the University of Michigan-Flint.”
One of Voland’s responsibilities as provost will be to meet with the chancellor, the other vice chancellors, and the deans twice a month. Voland will start his work at UM-Flint July 1.
Sirius can be reached at siriusw@umflint.edu.
“I am so happy and enthusiastic about my new role at UM-Flint,” Voland said. “My sense is that the University and the city are working together to build a more robust community, and I am very eager to join in this effort.”
Voland earned his Ph.D. in engineering design from Tufts University in 1989. “I wanted to have a positive impact on people’s lives,” Voland said. “Engineers always have clients in need of better solutions to technical problems, so I felt that the fruits of my work as an engineer would always have value.”
Voland comes to UM-Flint from Indiana University- Purdue University, where he was Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science. During his time there, faculty has increased more than 20 percent and overall productivity and enrollments also increased. The Student Success Center was also created during his time there. It is a program designed to have professional counselors work with faculty advisors to support students academically and personally.
As provost, Voland will be the chief academic officer responsible for UM-Flint’s academic programs and scholarly pursuits. He will also be in charge of forming constructive alliances with faculty and helping them find necessary resources and leading students to success.
“I am very interested in his work in developing new academic programs, since that is always an area that we want to expand to meet the needs of students,” Person said. “In addition, his work at securing research dollars for projects is important and I look forward to learning more about his experiences in that particular area.”
According to Voland, the three elements needed to successfully secure external financial support are to have a proposal full of merit that people fully support, a plan of implementation, and mutual interest and benefits for all parties. “If those three elements are in place, funds can be secured,” Voland said.
“Dr. Voland was the best prepared of all the candidates and had the most comprehensive knowledge of UM-Flint and this region,” said D.J. Trela, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and member of the Provost Search Committee. “I look forward to working alongside Dr. Voland in future years and am eager to welcome him both to the University, but also to this community. I believe he will have a profound, positive impact on both.”
“The division of student affairs eagerly awaits his arrival, and stands prepared to assist, support and collaborate,” said Mary Jo Sekelsky, vice chancellor for student services and enrollment management. “There has never been a better time to be at the University of Michigan-Flint.”
One of Voland’s responsibilities as provost will be to meet with the chancellor, the other vice chancellors, and the deans twice a month. Voland will start his work at UM-Flint July 1.
Sirius can be reached at siriusw@umflint.edu.
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