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�ؾ��� is pleased to announce that Mike Maly, PhD, will be the University’s new Provost & Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs. Dr. Maly has served as Interim Provost since March 2024, and he brings 28 years of broad and deep institutional experience as a professor, department chair, research center director and grant writer. Under his leadership, he will continue �ؾ���’s success as a uniquely urban- and minority-serving institution that produces graduates prepared to impact Chicago’s professional community and beyond. As Provost, he will continue to advocate for a robust liberal arts education that embraces hands-on, applied learning through expanded research opportunities and programs that support historically marginalized student groups. 

Mike Maly earned a BS in Sociology from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota before earning both an MA and PhD in Sociology from Loyola University Chicago. Since joining �ؾ���’s sociology department in 1997, Maly has assumed many roles at the University including Professor and Chair of Sociology, Director of the Policy Research Collaborative, Associate Provost for Research & Faculty Success, and his most recent role of Senior Vice Provost of Academic Affairs in 2021.

Dr. Maly strongly advocates for the value of a liberal arts education, and understands that its focus on critical thinking, problem-solving and community engagement provides students with valuable and transferable intellectual and concrete skills that can apply to local and global issues. He also understands that a university should offer programs that accommodate students of varied backgrounds and career goals. This belief has resulted in many successful new �ؾ��� initiatives under his leadership that include the MA in Community Development & Action for working professionals, the ACE (Adult Continuing Education) Interdisciplinary Studies degree for adult students and McNair Scholars Program for first-generation undergraduates. 

Dean Melissa Hogan, the Search Committee Chair, reflects on Dr. Maly’s experience and qualifications. “I am continuously impressed by Dr. Maly’s understanding of the challenges facing higher education today and his strategic thinking,” she says. “He has been a collaborative leader and problem-solver during his time at �ؾ���. Our committee deeply values Dr. Maly’s unwavering commitment to student support, success and retention.”

Under Dr. Maly’s leadership, �ؾ��� has earned nearly $60 million in grants that fund numerous University programs including a new STEM Center; expanded Laker Food Pantry that provides resources for students with food insecurity; increased services for veteran students; and the Equity Teaching Academy for faculty DEI training. Maly has also overseen the University’s designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). This status is granted to institutions with at least 25% of enrolled undergraduates who identify as Hispanic or Latino. Because of its HSI designation, �ؾ��� successfully received nearly $5 million in grants to expand STEM education access to minority students. These funds support PRIME (Producing Research and Innovation through a Mentoring Ecosystem), an initiative to create more direct pathways for undergraduates to earn a doctorate degree. The funds will also create doctoral programs for integrated biomedical sciences and information technology, as well as graduate programs for data science, information technology and biomedical sciences.

University President Ali Malekzadeh states, “Dr. Maly’s vision, dedication and commitment to our University’s mission make him exceptionally qualified to lead in this role. He has demonstrated in his years of service to �ؾ��� creative problem-solving, skilled collaboration with our stakeholders and thoughtful development of initiatives to drive our institution forward.”

As Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Maly will focus on stabilizing enrollment, increasing retention and providing students diverse learning experiences that align with �ؾ���’s social justice mission. He recognizes that these efforts begin with the excellent work of faculty and staff—and he is committed to ensuring they receive ongoing support and development. He has outlined four primary goals that are closely aligned with the new strategic plan—Succeed, Discover, Thrive and Lead—that emphasize preparing students for the workforce through dynamic curricula and mentorship; ensuring academic programs reflect global impact and problem-solving; enhancing recruitment and accessibility efforts; and fostering inclusion through DEIA initiatives and sustainable academic practices. Together, these initiatives aim to solidify �ؾ���’s reputation as an accessible, innovative and inclusive institution. 

“I taught here for nearly 20 years, and our students bring certain experiences and perspectives that are absent at many other universities,” Dr. Maly says. “We’re an urban and minority-majority institution that brings together people with an incredible diversity of skills and approaches to problem-solving that are invaluable in the larger world. This cultural wealth is something I want to celebrate and see result in accomplished graduates who are professionally prepared and prioritize social justice in all aspects of their life.”

“�ؾ��� was an institution founded on access and providing an education to students of all backgrounds,” continues Maly. “My effort since joining the Office of Provost has been to uphold our incredible legacy of educational accessibility while expanding opportunities for students with that guiding principle in mind.”