University President Fr. Robert Dowd has announced the reappointment of John McGreevy as provost for a second five-year term. Dowd had issued a “highly enthusiastic recommendation” for McGreevy’s reappointment to the University’s Board of Trustees. Faculty were notified of the decision in an email on May 5.
“I am truly delighted that John has agreed to serve a second five-year term as Provost. John is an invaluable and deeply trusted partner to me as we seek to achieve our aspirations as the premier Catholic research university in the world. I ask you to join me in congratulating and thanking John for his exceptional leadership, his tireless efforts on behalf of the University, and his extraordinary dedication to our distinctive mission,” Dowd said in the email to faculty.
McGreevy was unanimously re-elected by the Board of Trustees and unanimously endorsed by the Board of Fellows, which consists of six Holy Cross clergy and six lay people and is responsible for ensuring the University “maintains its essential character as a Catholic institution of higher learning.”
The provost’s review committee, which included eight faculty members and two students, unanimously recommended McGreevy be reappointed.
“Over the course of the past four months, the Committee has worked tirelessly to conduct extensive interviews and listening sessions across the University, as well as administer an anonymous survey of faculty, post-docs, and academic staff, to invite feedback about John’s performance to date and, where appropriate, identify areas for improvement,” Dowd said in the email.
According to Dowd, the review committee “highlighted John’s many accomplishments as Provost, praising him for articulating a bold vision for Notre Dame as the University’s chief academic officer, and for being a strategic thinker and accomplished scholar, deeply committed to the University’s Catholic mission and to future improvement.” Dowd said the committee also “identified areas of continued focus for John and the University.” A spokesperson for the University declined to provide a copy of the report or additional details about what the committee identified as McGreevy’s accomplishments or areas of continued focus.
McGreevy also received support from the executive committee of the faculty senate.
“The Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate met with the Provost Review Committee to share feedback and expressed unanimous support for his reappointment. The Faculty Senate looks forward to continue to work with him on important issues across the campus community,” biology professor Amy Stark, chair of the faculty senate, wrote in a statement to The Observer.
A historian with interests in religion and politics, McGreevy previously served as dean of the College of Arts and Letters from 2008 to 2018. As provost, he helped to develop the University’s strategic framework, Notre Dame 2033, and announced the launch of strategic initiatives focused on democracy, ethics and poverty. McGreevy has pushed for an increased emphasis on research at the University.
Over his tenure, McGreevy has received pushback from Catholic and conservative circles.
Last year, McGreevy was criticized for an email he sent to faculty in which he said hiring a diverse faculty was as important as hiring Catholic faculty.
“One important goal is to hire Catholic faculty and other faculty deeply committed to our mission to ensure continuity with our past and our future as the world’s leading global Catholic research university,” McGreevy said. “A second overlapping and equally important goal is to increase the number of women and underrepresented minorities on our faculty so that we become the diverse and inclusive intellectual community our mission urges us to be.”
McGreevy also drew backlash for approving the appointment of global affairs professor Susan Ostermann to lead the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, which she later declined. Ostermann’s appointment was criticized by some Catholics and conservatives because Ostermann had publicly advocated for abortion rights.
The Irish Rover, a Catholic and conservative campus newspaper, published an editorial in April titled “Provost McGreevy’s Mission Is Not Notre Dame’s,” which argued McGreevy had resisted ecclesial authority, adopted the values of secular universities, and failed to promote the University’s Catholic mission.
The provost’s review committee was chaired by Eric Sims, professor and chair of economics. Additional members include Marianne Cusato, professor of the practice of architecture and director of the Housing & Community Regeneration Initiative; Richard Garnett, professor of law and director of the Program on Church, State & Society; J. Daniel Gezelter, professor and department chair of chemistry and biochemistry; Maria McKenna, professor of the practice and faculty director of the AnBryce Scholars Institute and the Transformational Leaders Program; Laura Miller-Graff, professor of psychology, associate department chair and director of the Shaw Center for Children and Families; Thomas O’Sullivan, professor of biomedical electronics; Ann Tenbrunsel, professor of business ethics and department chair of Management & Organization; Sanchita Chakraborty, PhD student in applied and computational mathematics; and Jack Keller, undergraduate in the class of 2027. Ann Firth, vice president and chief of staff in the Office of the President, also served on the review committee as a non-voting member.
