New Senior Vice President – Academic Affairs
Posted: August 26, 2010
Douglas L. Wood, D.O., Ph.D.
As the inaugural senior vice president – academic affairs, the former SOMA dean is now the university’s top academic leader.
What he brings to the position: Dr. Wood, former dean of the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, not only has held the SOMA post since 2005 but led the creation of the medical school, one of the most innovative in the nation. Previously, Dr. Wood was dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University, and, in addition to holding numerous other leadership posts, has served as president of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, revitalizing that organization during his 11-year tenure. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, his D.O. degree from the Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine, and his Ph.D. from Wayne State University.
What’s new: For the first time, each of ATSU’s five deans — and potentially others — will report to the same person, Dr. Wood, who will report directly to the president. According to President Magruder, a single, unifying academic leader has been needed for many years, and this position marks a significantly positive step in ATSU’s progress toward becoming one university. This goal was cited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) as long ago as 1999, repeated in the Focused Visit of 2004 and the Accreditation Self-Study Report at the end of 2008, and reiterated by the HLC Visiting Team in February 2009.
Goals for his first year:
1. Move ATSU and its component parts toward becoming a more cohesive university
2. Engage in serious discussions relative to embracing a route that leads to continuous quality improvement across the entire university. Examples of such initiatives are the Academic Quality Improvement Program of the Higher Learning Commission, or the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Program
3. Stimulate creativity and innovation in all university programs
4. Begin to implement the university’s new strategic plan once approved
Long-term goals:
1. ATSU is unified into one university.
2. The university is engaged in continuous quality improvement at many levels.
3. The university is recognized as one of the more creative and innovative educational institutions in the United States.
4. The university’s new strategic plan is completely implemented, and ATSU is reaping the benefits of the plan.
Most memorable ATSU moment: Being chosen as the first ATSU senior vice president – academic affairs.