Provost Candidate Mike Sherman to Speak to Campus Today

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Mike Sherman, provost candidate

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Mike Sherman, one of three candidates for the position of provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Arkansas, will visit campus and make a public presentation at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, in Hembree Auditorium, room 107E in the Agricutural, Food and Life Sciences Building.

Sherman will speak about his “National Perspective on Campus Priorities,” and a question-and-answer session will follow.

The campus community and public are invited.

The public forum will be videotaped and posted online on Friday afternoon,Oct. 21. Members of the campus community were invited to provide feedback on the candidates through noon, Friday, Oct. 28. Sherman's Curriculum Vitae is available as a PDF download.

Sherman is in his sixth year at the University of Akron where he held the position of senior vice president and provost/chief operating officer. He is presently vice president for innovation and economic development/chief operating officer Research Foundation, supporting the success of the vice provost for research in the Office of Academic Affairs. He also works to support sustainable prosperity. As provost he collaborated with the deans and vice presidents to implement the strategic plan, Vision 2020, that was under development on his arrival. Vision 2020 included student success, academic program enhancement, faculty advancement and community engagement objectives. It also included finalizing academic program review with actionable outcomes and an Achieving Distinction initiative that included a strategic investment in biomimicry innovations via the doctoral program in integrated bioscience, also linked to a regional sustainability strategy.

Sherman served as professor of sport and exercise science at Ohio State University for 25 years, five years of which he served as vice provost for academic planning before joining the University of Akron in 2010.

At Ohio State he was the founding director of the School of Physical Activity and Educational Services for eight years. Sherman led strategic planning for the university’s colleges, with a primary focus on academic facilities and resources. He helped launch Ohio State’s academic facilities planning initiative, and he helped set the stage for implementing the university's global agenda. Sherman held reporting responsibilities for four regional campuses, University Libraries, the John Glenn School of Public Affairs, and the P-12 Project, among others. He also has provided oversight for the Targeted Investment in Excellence Initiative and the Battelle Endowment for Technology and Human Affairs grant program.

He joined Ohio State as an assistant professor in 1985, advanced to associate professor in 1989 and to professor in 1993. He conducted research on carbohydrate metabolism and exercise and physical activity measurement and was co-editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Sports Medicine from 1993 to 2007.

Sherman has earned three degrees: a Doctor of Philosophy in physical and health education (kinesiology), University of Texas; a Master of Science in biology, Ball State University; and Bachelor of Science in education (health education), Ohio University.

The other two candidates are James Scott “Jim” Coleman, provost and vice president for academic affairs, professor of biological sciences, Northern Arizona University and Sheryl Tucker, associate provost for academic affairs, dean of the graduate college and professor of chemistry, Oklahoma State University.

Coleman will speak at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, in the Faulkner Performing Arts Center.

Tucker will speak at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, in the Faulkner Performing Arts Center.