From Edinboro alumna to Mercyhurst Provost

An Edinboro University graduate has been appointed to one of the top positions at nearby Mercyhurst University. Dr. Leanne Roberts will be assuming the role of provost there after the 2017-18 school year to replace the outgoing Dr. David Dausey, who is becoming provost at Duquesne University.

Roberts, who graduated from Edinboro in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, and then with a master’s of education in 1994, spent a fair share of time at the ‘Boro.

“We walked across campus many times in the cold snowy drifts and wind so cold it would hurt our faces,” Roberts recalled. “We still laugh to this day about getting the ‘brain freeze’ from the intensity of the cold in Edinboro.”

Roberts then went on to receive a doctorate in education from the University of Akron in 2005 while she started working at Mercyhurst in 2001.

Provost will be the newest in a lengthy list of titles she has had there. She has served as a department chair, associate dean and dean. In addition, she was awarded the Teaching Excellence Award by Mercyhurst in 2014.

“The provost is the chief academic officer of the university,” Roberts explained. “Which means the responsibility of all academic operations, from curriculum planning to academic support services, will fall within the scope of my duties.”

The provost position will be a heavy workload, but her prior experience and how she has preformed thus far has led to much faith in her ability to handle it. Both Dausey, her to-be predecessor, and Michael T. Victor, president of Mercyhurst, have expressed their confidence in her abilities and suitability for the role.

“We are excited to have Dr. Roberts join our senior administrative team,” Victor stated in a news release from the university, explaining some of his reasoning in choosing Roberts as provost.

“She has remained steadfast in her commitment to building strong partnerships within and across the university and community,” he continued. “At every step, Dr. Roberts has demonstrated a strategic capacity, an acumen for leadership and an ability to inspire and deliver excellence.”

Nathan Hirth can be reached at eupnews.spectator@gmail.com.

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