CNU announces a new provost

News Release - April 3, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact:
Carolyn Cuthrell
Office of Communications and Public Relations
carolyn.cuthrell@cnu.edu
(757) 594-7331

Dr. Mark W. Padilla

(NEWPORT NEWS, Va.) — Christopher Newport University will have a new provost beginning July 2007. Dr. Mark W. Padilla will be replacing Dr. Richard Summerville, who is retiring in June after a distinguished 27-year career at CNU.

CNU President Paul Trible made the announcement of the appointment: “After reviewing 110 national and international applicants, Dr. Padilla was clearly the right choice to lead the remarkable academic transformation taking place at CNU. He has an outstanding record of success at pre-eminent liberal arts and sciences institutions and is deeply committed to liberal learning, shared governance, and student success.”

An accomplished teacher and scholar, Padilla holds doctoral and master’s degrees in Comparative Literature from Princeton University and a bachelor’s degree in Classical Studies and English from the University of California Santa Cruz, where he graduated with honors.

He joins CNU from the University of North Carolina-Asheville, which is ranked #5 among the top public liberal arts and sciences institutions in the nation by "U.S. News and World Report." He served as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UNC-Asheville since 2002, where he is also Professor of Classics. His experience also includes sixteen years spent at Bucknell University as Professor of Classics, interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Associate Dean of the Faculty, and Chair of the Classics Department.  Padilla has many scholarly publications to his credit. He has edited several books and volumes and written more than three dozen articles, book reviews and descriptions.

Mark Padilla and his wife, Robin, have three children.

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