The University of Texas Permian Basin has named a new provost who will bring more than three decades of educational experience to the position.
Susan Ganter was named the new provost and executive vice president of academic affairs last week, replacing Dan Heimmerman who became the University of South Carolina-Aiken’s chancellor last spring, according to OA Online. Ganter was introduced during a press conference on Jan. 7 in the school’s Mesa Building. President Sandra Woodley said this is one of the most important positions at the university, and she looks forward to what Ganter's experience will bring.
“She will be basically the deputy president for me here at the University of Texas Permian Basin, and she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from lots of different institutions,” Woodley said.
Ganter is leaving Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where she was the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Her new job will be the second-highest rank at the university, where she will lead five colleges that include 70 undergraduate and graduate programs.
Ganter has a bachelor’s degree in music and math from Southern Methodist University and also received a master’s in applied mathematics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, according to the university website. At UC Santa Barbara she also received a doctorate in educational leadership with a mathematics focus. She is a certified K-12 teacher as well as a community college instructor in the states of Texas and California. She has worked in education at just about every level from high school to universities. Aside from Embry-Riddle she was also a member of the faculty at Clemson University and Virginia Tech. She has been involved in education for 32 years.
Ganter said in a release by the university that as a native of Texas, she has strong attachments to the state, as her family goes back five generations. She has watched the growth of the university and said she admires the balance between educational excellence, faculty scholarship and social justice. Ganter also said that the university's strategic plan shows the importance of serving the students and the region.
"I am looking forward to working with the UTPB team and broader Permian Basin community to form strong partnerships that support the regional economy while also providing a wide array of living and learning opportunities for UTPB students and local citizens," Ganter said.
Ganter will officially be starting her new position this summer, but she will be visiting the campus during the spring.