Patricia O'Donoghue to serve as Interim Provost

The Board of Trustees selected Patricia O'Donoghue, Ph.D., as DePaul University's Interim Provost for the 2012-2013 academic year.

University President Rev. Holtschneider, C.M. announced the decision on behalf of the board in a university-wide email Thursday afternoon. O'Donoghue will serve as Interim Provost for one year beginning July 1, 2012.

O'Donoghue currently works as the Vice President for Alumni Outreach and Engagement at DePaul. She will continue to hold this position until she assumes the role of provost on July , when1 Dr. Helmet Epp steps down at the end of this academic year.

"It's an exciting time to work for faculty, staff and students," O'Donoghue said.

O'Donoghue wants to help faculty, staff and students achieve their expectations during her time as Interim Provost and "sustain the university's momentum and agenda Dr. Epp set forward."

"The Vincentian Mission is very much alive," she said.

O'Donoghue's biography shows a long list of administrative and academic experience. Before coming to DePaul, she served as President of Mount Mary College, a Catholic college in Milwaukee, for nine years. She was Vice President for Academic Affairs and professor of Nursing at LaRoche College in Pittsburgh and was also Provost and Executive Vice President at Carlow University in Pittsburg. She achieved a Ph.D. in Nursing at the University of Pittsburg.

As the Vice President for Alumni Outreach and Engagement, she has held nearly 100 events around the Chicagoland area and across the country. Since O'Donoghue's arrival at DePaul three years ago, alumni engagement increased by over 150 percent.

University President Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, C.M. said in addition to O'Donoghue's long list of qualifications, she has a "wicket sense of humor." He said her amazing knowledge of medical education will be beneficial for the newly formed College of Science and Health.

O'Donoghue emerged as one candidate from the interim provost search website, which allowed any one from the DePaul community to submit names of potential candidates.

O'Donoghue will not apply for the permanent provost position and will serve for only one year. A national search for the permanent position will soon be underway. Student Government Association, Faculty Council and Staff Council will begin nominating members for a search committee, who will start to work in February.

O'Donoghue will meet with Dr. Epp and his transition team throughout the remainder of the academic year to gain and increase details that will help with her transition.