Matt Makley, Ph.D., chair of the History Department and a former Faculty Senate president, has assumed the role of interim provost at Metropolitan State University of Denver, President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., announced Thursday.
Makley, a nearly 20-year veteran of MSU Denver, will serve in an interim capacity ahead of a national search for a permanent provost, which is expected to begin later this year. In his interim role, Makley will spend the next several months assessing academic priorities and engaging in a listening tour with the campus community.
Makley, in consultation with search chair Cath Kleier, Ph.D., and other Academic Affairs leaders, has canceled the search for a deputy provost to focus on assessing academic priorities and conducting a listening tour with the campus community. Jeffrey Newcomer, Ph.D., who has been serving as interim deputy provost will continue to do so in the near term while Makley evaluates branch priorities and develops an operational plan. The process to appoint an interim chair for the History Department is underway.
“Matt’s extensive institutional knowledge, collaborative approach and commitment to inclusive leadership will help ensure a stable and smooth transition over the next year,” Davidson said.
Meanwhile, Laura Niesen de Abruña, Ph.D., former provost and executive vice president of Academic Affairs, will continue to serve MSU Denver as a full-time faculty member in the Department of English.
Niesen de Abruña joined MSU Denver in 2023, bringing extensive experience as a provost at four other institutions of higher learning and a distinguished career as a professor of English. During her tenure as MSU Denver’s provost, she advanced academic strategy and student-success initiatives and worked to develop an equitable faculty-workload plan.
“I appreciate Laura’s dedication and commitment to the University’s mission and thank her for her contributions as provost,” Davidson said. “I look forward to her continued work and scholarship as a member of our faculty.”
