Rothaus named interim CMU provost

​Central Michigan University President Bob Davies announced today the appointment of Richard Rothaus, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, as interim provost. He will assume the role Jan. 1, 2022, following the departure of current provost Mary C. Schutten, who  announced she would step down effective Dec. 31, 2021.

"Dean Rothaus is a well-respected leader within his college and throughout the university," CMU President Bob Davies said. "He is a strong communicator who has taken on and effectively handled tough challenges, and I am confident he will champion shared governance and provide critical leadership to our continued strategic focus on enrollment and budget planning." Rothaus joined CMU in August 2018 from the North Dakota University System, where he served as vice chancellor of academic and student affairs for the entire state system, which includes 11 colleges and universities. He also served NDUS as director of academic programs, research and accreditation from 2014-2015.

Rothaus also spent five years on the president's cabinet at St. Cloud State University as assistant vice president for research.

In addition to his administrative positions, Rothaus served as a research associate at NDSU's Center for Heritage Renewal. He also acted as a consulting archeologist for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe from 2006-2014 and as president and principal investigator for Trefoil Cultural and Environmental from 2008-2014.

"Relationship building and communication will be a critical focus of mine as I move into this role," Rothaus said. "I look forward to working with the faculty, students and staff across campus to tackle challenges and act on opportunities."

A nationwide search for CMU's new provost began last month with the appointment of a 25-member search committee, chaired by Betty Kirby, interim dean of the College of the Arts and Media.