COLUMBUS -- Executive Vice President and Provost Edward J. Ray, with the concurrence of President William E. Kirwan, has recommended the appointment of Dr. Mac A. Stewart vice provost for Minority Affairs, pending board approval.

Stewart, currently serving as the interim vice provost, replaces Timothy Knowles, who left the university in July 2000. The appointment will go before the university’s Board of Trustees at its next meeting on March 2.

“We are extremely fortunate to have someone with the experience, expertise and integrity of Mac Stewart already on board at Ohio State to fill this crucial post,” said Ohio State President William E. Kirwan. “Over the past several months, Dr. Stewart has proved to be a highly respected leader and voice for expanded diversity at The Ohio State University.”

Ray said that many initially had advised him to have a national search for the vice provost position. “In recent months, however, I have revisited that issue with many of the constituencies served by OMA. The feedback I received consistently indicated that we would be well served by appointing Dr. Stewart to the position of vice provost.

“Mac has tremendous support both on campus and from the Columbus community. We believe that he brings tremendous leadership skills to this position that will enable him to provide stability and progress to the Office of Minority Affairs and to serve as an exceptionally valuable partner for the president, me and others as we work to implement the university’s Diversity Action Plan,” Ray said.

The Office of Minority Affairs focuses on recruitment, retention, and graduation of racially and ethnically diverse students. Stewart also will be responsible for the Frank W. Hale Black Cultural Center, minority scholarship services, the Upward Bound/ Minority Research Initiative and Ohio State’s Young Scholars program, an initiative to encourage and prepare minority youth from low-income families to attend four-year colleges and universities.

Stewart said he hopes to bring continuity to the Office of Minority Affairs, to enhance scholarship opportunities, and to increase recruitment and retention rates of minority faculty and students.

“I want to be sure that Ohio State retains a leadership position in the way it addresses issues related to people of color,” Stewart said. “I look forward to the continuation of the work we have begun.”

Before his interim appointment, Stewart was dean of University College and associate provost for undergraduate studies. He has been at Ohio State since 1970.

Alex Shumate, managing partner of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey and former chair of Ohio State’s Board of Trustees, praised the university’s selection. “I think Mac is an excellent choice for the position. I think he combines a strong knowledge of higher education and an awareness of the challenges that most college students face. I am confident he will do an outstanding job for the university, the students and the community as well.”

Currently, Stewart serves on the Board of Trustees for Mount Carmel College of Nursing and on the Columbus Urban League Board of Directors and is involved in numerous other community associations. He also belongs to many professional and academic societies, including the American Association of Higher Education and the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, where he serves as an Ohio State representative.

Stewart earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Morehouse College, a master’s degree in counseling from Atlanta University and a doctorate in higher education administration from Ohio State.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A photo of Dr. Stewart is available electronically by contacting Lesley Deaderick at (614) 292-0569.

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