Radford University has named Graham E. Glynn to be the university’s next provost and vice president for academic affairs.

In the position, Glynn will serve as a member of President Brian O. Hemphill’s cabinet and will have a significant responsibility in innovating, communicating and coordinating academic activities and leading Radford University in fulfilling its mission.

As the chief academic officer of the university, the provost is expected to collaborate with faculty, staff and the student body and be responsive to the changing landscape of higher education in order to develop and execute academic policies.

The provost’s role also calls for Glynn to budget and administer academic programs and related activities, identify new approaches to the delivery of academic programs in order to complement existing programmatic offerings and strategically manage current and future fiscal priorities.

“Dr. Glynn brings to Radford University a wealth of knowledge, experience and academic credentials that will help guide our students and faculty toward our goal of becoming an innovative, premier university within the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond, with a focus on teaching, research and service,” President Hemphill said. “We anticipate his arrival on campus with great excitement and look forward to the leadership and guidance he will bring to our campus.”

Currently, Glynn serves as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Fort Hays State University, a 15,000-student state regional university in Hays, Kansas. There, he is responsible for the leadership of five colleges, the university library and numerous other offices, including Internationalization and Global Partnerships, Academic Programs and Student Success, and Institutional Effectiveness and Quality Improvement.

Glynn earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Northeast Ohio Medical University/Kent State University, Rootstown, Ohio and a B.S. in pharmacology and biochemistry from University College Dublin, Ireland.

“I am honored and very excited to have been selected as the next provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Radford University,” said Glynn. “I am looking forward to getting to know everyone and, standing on the shoulders of those who came before me, working with a great team to move this wonderful institution forward during an exciting time at Radford University.”

“On behalf of the Faculty Senate, I congratulate Dr. Glynn for being named Radford University’s next provost, and welcome him to our community,” said Carter Turner, chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, president of the Faculty Senate and faculty representative to the Board of Visitors. “The faculty look forward to working with him as we continue to find ways to better serve our students and the Commonwealth. Dr. Glynn’s vast experience and wealth of knowledge will serve the University well as we move further into the 21st Century.”

“As a faculty member, I greatly appreciated the opportunity to see and hear the provost candidates. Dr. Glynn stood out for me as someone who has the ability to best lead the Academic Affairs division successfully,” said Mike Chatham, associate professor of accounting. “He struck me as someone who would use a combination of hard data, soft data and intuition to make decisions in an effective and transparent manner. I greatly look forward to working with him.”

“Dr. Glynn has an entrepreneurial spirit and is a visionary who loves the traditions in higher education, yet has experience pairing the strong foundation of a teaching university with new, transformative programs,” said Kenna Colley, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. “As a first generation student himself, he understands the need for teaching excellence, is a strong faculty advocate and is driven by the success of students. I was enthused when he talked about collaboration and interdisciplinary possibilities, supporting our campus’s diversity and shared governance. I believe he is a true champion for both faculty and students.”

“Dr. Glynn is an energetic scholar who has a passion for academics, teaching, student success and research. We are confident his extensive experiences in a number of higher education settings will serve Radford University and our students well,” said Orion Rogers, dean of the College of Science and Technology.

Glynn will assume his new role at Radford University on July 1, and his salary is $280,000.