Provost Search

Office of the President
Rider University
2083 Lawrenceville Road
Lawrenceville, NJ
609-896-5001

Date:

December 10, 2012
To: Rider University Community
From: Mordechai Rozanski
Subject: Provost Search Announcement
Dear Rider University Community,

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. DonnaJean Fredeen as Rider’s next Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Chemistry with tenure, effective August 1, 2013. Dr. Fredeen is currently Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). She will succeed Dr. Donald Steven, who will retire June 30, 2013, after distinguished service as Provost since 2006.

The decision to appoint Dr. Fredeen reflects the overwhelming support she received from the Search Committee and individuals and groups across the institution who were involved in the interview process.

In addition, based on my personal interaction with the finalists, I concluded that DonnaJean is the one most capable of building upon Provost Steven’s successful academic initiatives. In my view, she brings the strategic vision, new ideas and leadership qualities that best fit Rider’s needs during this important time in our progress. Moreover, she impressed me with her thoughtfulness, intellectual depth and genuine desire to join the Rider community to help us advance to the next level of excellence.

I believe that DonnaJean will be a confident advocate for our academic needs and will work collegially with faculty, staff and students. She will also be a valuable member of the senior team by providing constructive and independent advice as we work to implement the academic priorities of our strategic plan.

DonnaJean earned her Ph.D. in Analytical/Inorganic Chemistry from Texas A&M University in 1986 and her B.A in Chemistry from McMurry College in 1981. She has served as Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at SCSU since 1998. Prior to that, she was Chairperson of the Department of Chemistry from 1994 to 1998. She joined SCSU as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in 1987, was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 1991 and was promoted to Professor in 1996. Her publications and presentations have focused on the chemistry of ionic transition metal carbonyl cluster fragments. Her current research interests include science education reform and leadership models in higher education, particularly those that address change leadership.

DonnaJean, her husband Ken and family plan to relocate to this area in late July. I know you will join me in welcoming them when they arrive.

Allow me to conclude with thanks to the Board of Trustees for its endorsement of this appointment and to Dr. Alex Grushow and his colleagues in the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry & Physics for approving Dr. Fredeen’s academic appointment. Special thanks go to my colleagues on the Search Committee, including Steve Leo of Storbeck/Pimentel, our external consultant, for their friendship, wise counsel and dedication to Rider and this important search.

Mordechai Rozanski