By Jazzminn Morecraft
At the end of the fall 2018 semester, President Beck sent out a campus wide email informing the students that Provost Geoffrey Chase would be retiring at the end of the semester. “It is with mixed emotions but warm wishes that I share an announcement from Provost Chase about his plans to retire at the end of this semester,” wrote Beck.
In an email later that week Beck further informed students on what would be happening next. ”After consulting with the Provost Search Committee, faculty, staff and student leadership, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Elizabeth A. Say has agreed to serve as CSUCis interim provost in the wake of Dr. Chase’s retirement. In addition to providing leadership for Academic Affairs, D r. Say will help us prepare to welcome a permanent provost following a national search,” wrote Beck.
Dr. Say obtained two bachelor’s degrees in English and religious studies from California State University Northridge (CSUN). Following that she received her doctorate in religious social ethics. After she finished schooling, she returned to CSUN. “I then returned to CSUN as a part-time lecturer and eventually was hired into the tenure track as an Assistant Professor in Religious Studies in 1989,” said Say.
Dr. Say continued to explain, ” I was at CSUN for 33 years, as a member of the Religious Studies department and later as the Chair of Gender and Women’s Studies. In 2004 I was appointed as Dean of the College of Humanities at CSUN and served in that position for over 14 years before coming to CI.”
Dr. Say began as Interim Provost at CI on January 14. She will only hold this position for 18 months, before retiring.
As Interim Provost she will be the Chief Academic Officer of the University. “This includes overseeing faculty recruitment, hiring, and development; academic program development and assessment; curriculum; student success efforts as these relate to academics; enrollment; advising and any other pieces that are tied to the academic mission of the university,” explained Say.
She is currently working with the different Deans at CI to “identify priorities for the division.” However, Dr. Say does have one main goal while here. “My main goal is to help Academic Affairs prepare for a permanent Provost.”
