Dear Colleagues:

I am pleased to announce that I am recommending an extension of the appointment of Martha E. Pollack, Ph.D., as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, pending approval by the Board of Regents later this week. The appointment extension would be effective July 1, 2015, and continue through June 30, 2018.

Provost Pollack has been an innovative and disciplined academic and budget leader for the campus since her appointment as provost in May 2013. I appreciate her work to hold down tuition costs, provide more financial aid to our students, and her leadership of important new initiatives in digital education and engaged learning. She has recruited several new outstanding deans and other important leaders for the campus. Her work also includes advancing our ongoing efforts to improve diversity and the campus climate.

Provost Pollack has been a member of our faculty since joining the College of Engineering in 2000. Her strong U-M leadership experience includes service as vice provost for academic and budgetary affairs and as dean of the School of Information from 2007 to 2010.

She earned her A.B. degree from Dartmouth College, and M.S.E. and Ph.D. degrees in computer and information science from the University of Pennsylvania.

I look forward to continuing to work with Provost Pollack for the benefit of our university and students.

Sincerely,

Mark Schlissel
President