Ward to join Northwest as its next provost

Ward to join Northwest as its next provost

Northwest Missouri State University has announced Dr. Rose Marie Ward will serve as its next provost and vice president of academic affairs, concluding a national search to fill the role.

"We are delighted to welcome Rose Marie to the Northwest team," Dr. Lance Tatum, the University's president, said. "Her depth of experience and professional background will be a tremendous asset to our institution."

The provost is the University's chief academic officer and has oversight of areas focusing on enrollment management, academic quality and student success. The position leads Northwest's continuous improvement of undergraduate and graduate instruction, academic support services, technology integration that drives learning and the evaluation of academic programs. The provost also serves as the dean of faculty and administrative liaison to the Faculty Senate, among other responsibilities.

"I am thrilled to join Northwest and to come alongside the amazing Bearcat family," Ward said. "As an academic leader, I have championed a student-centered focus while harnessing academic excellence for the public good. Together, we can amplify and celebrate the transformational power of the educational experience at Northwest."

Ward comes to Northwest after serving most recently as special assistant to the provost and a professor of psychology at the University of Cincinnati, which she joined in 2022. She also served there as vice provost of graduate education and dean of the Graduate College.

Prior to joining the University of Cincinnati, she served Miami University in Ohio in several administrative roles that included associate dean of graduate studies; director of the Center for Teaching Excellence; grant writing for the College of Education, Health and Society; and graduate director of the Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition and Health. Starting in 2002, she served in faculty roles at Miami University in its departments of Psychology; Kinesiology, Nutrition and Health; Statistics; and Educational Leadership.

Additionally, she has worked in statistical consulting and research positions for universities and other organizations throughout the northeast.

She earned both her Ph.D. and Master of Arts degree in experimental psychology from the University of Rhode Island. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and communication from Juniata College in Pennsylvania.

Ward will begin at Northwest on Feb. 16 and succeeds Dr. Jamie Hooyman, who retired in December after eight years in the role.