, Andrews University, with Adventist Review staff
Christon Arthur, dean of the Andrews University School of Graduate Studies and Research, will become the university’s next provost in July, filling a position vacated when Andrea Luxton was elected as the next president of Andrews University earlier this year.
Andrews University’s board of trustees elected Arthur on May 11. He has served as dean since 2010 and as associate provost, with responsibilities for faculty policy and faculty development, since 2012.
“I am honored to have this opportunity to continue to build on Andrews University’s legacy,” Arthur said. “I see the role of the provost as giving one’s best advice to the president, and providing academic leadership to help ensure that academic programs and processes are known for their excellence and academic rigor.”
He also said he looked forward “to understanding and building on the strength of our ethnic, cultural and global diversity — which is a work in progress offering unparalleled opportunities for our students to understand and thrive in the diverse and changing environment of the world.”
The selection of Arthur was guided by the work of an internal provost search committee chaired by Luxton, who was elected university president in February.
Read also: Andrea Luxton Named President of Andrews University
“As our search committee reviewed the potential candidates for provost, some of the most used descriptors for Christon Arthur referred to his spiritual leadership, vision, collaborative teamwork and his focus on student success and mentoring,” Luxton said.
The committee was made up of board of trustees, faculty, staff, and student representatives, and began meeting in March. Following a review of applicants, the committee selected three accomplished finalists, including two candidates who are currently part of the Andrews community, and one off-campus candidate who had previously been an Andrews faculty member.
Those finalists met and were interviewed by a variety of campus faculty and staff groups, with recommendations made to the search committee, which made its choice and recommendation to the Andrews University board of trustees. The board formally confirmed the selection of Arthur as provost-elect in a telephone conference call on May 11, and electronically mailed ratification votes of their decision over the subsequent 24 hours.
“Under Arthur’s leadership, the graduate culture at Andrews has been transformed, and he has also introduced a range of initiatives for faculty and students that have been both innovative and forward-thinking and have helped move Andrews University toward a future of strength and success,” Luxton said. “Personally, it’s been a privilege to work alongside him over the last five years as graduate dean and, more recently, as associate provost. I now look forward to the strength, passion and vision he’ll bring as the next provost of Andrews University.”
Read also: Andrea Luxton, New Andrews President, Sees Difficulties as Chance to Grow Faith
Prior to coming to Andrews University, Arthur served as an associate dean and associate professor within the College of Education at Tennessee State University in Nashville, and also as an acting and interim department head of education administration there. In addition, Arthur has worked as an elementary and secondary teacher, and as department head of arts and general studies in Grenada.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from Caribbean Union College (now University of the Southern Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago), and M.A., Ed.S. and Ph.D. degrees in education from Andrews University, and has completed postgraduate training at Harvard University’s Institute for Management and Leadership in Education.
Arthur will assume the post of provost on July 1, when Luxton begins her term as the sixth president of Andrews University.
The formal plan to replace the dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research will be announced at a later date.
Founded in 1874, Andrews University is the flagship institution of higher education for the Seventh-day Adventist Church and offers more than 200 areas of study including advanced degrees. Its main campus is in Berrien Springs, Michigan, but the university also provides instruction at colleges and universities in 19 countries around the world.