David L. Jamison, dean of RMU's School of Communications and Information Systems (SCIS), will become University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs |
Moon Township, PA, Dec. 17, 2007 - Robert Morris University (RMU) has announced that David L. Jamison, dean of RMU's School of Communications and Information Systems (SCIS), will become University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs overseeing all academic affairs and enrollment services for the university and its six schools. The Office of Student Affairs will continue to report to the President. The university named Jamison after an eight-month search process conducted by an interdisciplinary committee comprised of university trustees, faculty and staff representing all six schools and many academic and administrative departments. The committee screened more than 85 candidates from across the region and the nation before narrowing their search to six, then three, finalists. "I am very pleased that our extensive and highly-strategic search process has allowed us to build consensus and great confidence around our selection of Dave Jamison as our new Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs," said Robert Morris University President Gregory Dell'Omo. "All of our candidates were questioned about their vision and abilities to help us reach a number of very important goals in the years ahead. Through the entire interview process, Dave has demonstrated his understanding of Robert Morris - past, present and future - as well as his ability to help lead RMU as we take new strides forward as a private, comprehensive university." Jamison, a long-time leader of the university's diversity initiative and SCIS dean for six years, led his school through a number of strategic improvements and expansions, including RMU's first-ever professional accreditation (in Computer Information Systems), the addition of RMU's first-ever fine arts degrees (the B.F.A. and B.A. degrees in Media Arts), as well as several new degree options in Communication, including applied journalism, public relations and theatre. In addition, Jamison's commitment to engaged learning saw him take leadership in reviving the Colonial Theatre, developing a student newspaper, a student literary magazine, the first RMU College Bowl Team, and, most recently, an intercollegiate speech team. "I am eager to help Robert Morris attain our strategic vision for enhancing our academic excellence, building on our model for engaged learning with a professional focus and a global perspective, and helping RMU become the 'university of choice' to a new generation of undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and adult students," said Jamison. For the past three years, Jamison has chaired the Robert Morris University Campus Diversity Committee and the NCAA Division I Certification Self-Study. Jamison teaches "Legal issues in Information Systems" for doctoral students, "Legal Issues for Educators" for master's students, and "Writing for Advertising and Public Relations" and "Law and Ethics of Journalism" for undergraduates. Previously, Jamison was Professor of Communication and an adjunct faculty member in the Law School at The University of Akron in Ohio, where he served as Department Head for the Communications Department from 1979-87, then Assistant Provost from 1989-92, Associate Provost from 1992-94 and Senior Vice President and Provost from 1994-95. Before his career in academia, Jamison spent several years as a Foreign Services Information Officer, posted to Rome, Italy and Brussels, Belgium, where he served at U.S. Mission to the European Communities and U.S. Mission to NATO. Jamison has served on numerous accreditations and review teams, including the Program Review for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education and Re-Accreditation Joint Review Team for American Bar Association/American Association of Law Schools. In addition, he was a member of Division I Athletics Certification Peer Review Teams and served on the Division I Championships and Competition Cabinet. Jamison serves on the WQED Multimedia Community Advisory Board and America's Promise, Allegheny County. He received his J.D. (Cum Laude) in 1969 and his M.A. (Communications) in 1967 from the University of Michigan, and his B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) in 1965 from Muskingum College. Jamison lives in Beaver, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Sue, a social worker and community advocate. The Jamisons have five children and stepchildren, and eight grandchildren. |
Released: 12/18/2007 |