I am writing to share news of several changes to the administration.
First, I am very pleased to announce the appointment of John Magee to a three-year term as Clark’s permanent Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, effective immediately. As you know, John has been serving as Interim Provost since September. Since then, he has invested considerable time and effort to understand Clark’s challenges and opportunities, and he has demonstrated a willingness to be both collaborative and decisive in helping to advance the University at a time of unprecedented headwinds. I am grateful to the faculty, staff, and administrators who offered feedback on John’s candidacy following his recent presentation. I am also especially thankful to the members of the Planning and Budget Review Committee, chaired by Professor Jacqueline Geoghegan, for their input.
As our chief academic officer, John will be responsible for all aspects of academic strategy and planning, faculty appointments, institutes, centers, and departments, as well as student affairs, the library, athletics, and Title IX.
Next, I am equally pleased to announce that Dan Hitchell will serve as our next Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer (EVP/CFO), starting April 14, 2025. Dan, who succeeds Danielle Manning, is currently the Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Before joining Trinity nearly 10 years ago, Dan held similar roles at Ohio Wesleyan University, Webster University (in St. Louis, Missouri), and St. Louis University. He has deep experience across the spectrum of higher education, from small liberal arts to national research institutions with both domestic and international recruitment reaches. At the institutions he has served, Dan has adeptly and collaboratively improved operations and finances through smart, data-driven planning and implementation. He also demonstrated a firm commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, especially in advancing change management.
The EVP/CFO is our chief administrative officer and a key partner to me, the provost, senior colleagues, and trustees – providing strategic alignment and strong management of the University’s human, financial, and physical resources. This includes responsibility for stewarding and managing Clark’s assets, budgeting and financial planning, business services, controller and treasury functions, human resources, information technology, facilities management, enterprise risk, compliance, and campus safety/police.
Here, too, I am very grateful for the large number of faculty and staff colleagues, as well as trustees, who met with Dan and provided input into the search.
Finally, David Chearo, the Vice President for Planning and Chief of Staff, has decided to accept a new position in Chicago where he will be able to be closer to family. David’s last day at Clark will be March 14. It is hard to capture all of the ways in which David has made a positive contribution here at Clark as they are varied and wide – from leading the collaborative development of Clark Inspired, our strategic framework, to overseeing design and construction of the Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design, to partnering with faculty to formalize plans for our new School of Climate, Environment, and Society. Many colleagues have told me how much they appreciate David and his role. He has been an exceptional partner and trusted advisor to me and I wish him the very best in his future endeavors.
As part of the effort to change our operating model, I do not plan at this time to replace David as vice president. I do, however, intend to appoint a new chief of staff.
Please join me in congratulating these individuals on their new roles at Clark and elsewhere.
Sincerely,
David Fithian ’87