Allison appointed vice provost for academic excellence and inclusion

Maria T. Allison, executive vice provost for academic affairs and dean of the Graduate College at Arizona State University, has been appointed vice provost for academic excellence and inclusion, effective May 15.

In this post she will work to facilitate excellence in all areas of the academic enterprise. This will include ensuring members of the faculty are recognized for their achievements both internally and externally, assisting deans in recruiting an excellent faculty, developing faculty development programs, and developing programs for administrators to ensure excellence in support for faculty and students. Her position incorporates the duties previously performed by Delia Saenz, who is returning to the faculty.

“Dr. Allison has been an invaluable asset to the university in her previous position as dean of the Graduate College and executive vice provost for academic affairs,” said Elizabeth D. Phillips, ASU executive vice president and provost. “In addition to her major responsibilities in guiding graduate education, she has helped produce the annual academic plan and guided all academic program reviews for the university. This background will enable her to easily work with deans and faculty to enhance excellence at ASU.”

Allison, who has been vice provost and dean of the Graduate College for 10 years, joined the ASU faculty in 1984 as associate professor in the Department of Recreation Management and Tourism in the College of Public Programs. She was promoted to full professor in 1989 and served as department chair from 1991 to 1995.

In her role as executive vice provost and dean, Allison has focused Graduate College initiatives on building the quality and diversity of ASU's graduate student population and creating institutional structures to facilitate interdisciplinary graduate education. She led the effort by the Graduate College to secure three Council of Graduate Schools' (CGS) awards including the CGS PhD Completion project, the CGS Responsible Conduct of Research project, and sole national recipient of the 2004 CGS/Peterson Award for Inclusivity in Graduate Education.

“Over the past decade, it has been a sincere pleasure working with outstanding faculty and staff dedicated to the success of our graduate programs and graduate students,” Allison said. “Because of the dedication of all involved, ASU has continued to enhance the quality of existing graduate programs, built many exciting new interdisciplinary graduate programs, and has substantially increased the diversity of our graduate student population. I am excited about moving into new areas of responsibility on behalf of the university.”

Allison is a professor in the School of Community Resources and Development. Her scholarship focuses predominantly on the nature of cultural differences in play, sport and leisure patterns within the United States. Her current research and scholarly publications analyze the nature of organizational barriers to diversity in public and nonprofit sectors. She has been the recipient of several outstanding achievement awards for teaching and recognized as a distinguished mentor of women.

Allison completed her bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of New Mexico and her doctorate at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

There will be an internal search for a new dean of the Graduate College.