Dr. Joan Ficke
Editor’s note: The following message was emailed to all students, faculty and staff on June 20, 2018.
Dear Campus Community,
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Joan C. Ficke has accepted my invitation to serve as interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at San Jose State, effective July 16, 2018. Dr. Ficke brings to San Jose State more than three decades of relevant experience as a professor and higher education leader at Montclair State University (Montclair, New Jersey), which has much in common with San Jose State. Founded as a teacher’s college, Montclair State has grown into a comprehensive multipurpose research institution with three campuses approximately one hour from Manhattan.
Dr. Ficke most recently served as dean of The Graduate School at Montclair State, where her staff of 20 administered 140 programs at the master’s and doctoral level for 4,000 students. She previously served for more than a decade in various leadership roles, culminating in senior vice provost, where she was responsible for all faculty personnel matters, the university registrar, career services and special sessions. Earlier in her career, Dr. Ficke served as interim dean of students, director of the women’s center, executive director of the New Jersey Business Group on Health, and president of the faculty union.
For nearly two decades, Dr. Ficke was a professor in Montclair State’s Department of Public Health and Department of Exercise Science and Physical Education. You will find an extensive list of her scholarly achievements, activities, research and publications on her resume, which we have posted online. She received her bachelor’s from Montclair State, and her master’s and doctoral degrees from New York University.
Dr. Ficke has agreed to serve in this interim role while we conduct a national search for a permanent provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Ficke will not be a candidate for the permanent position.
I also am very pleased to announce that Dr. Melinda Jackson, Chair of the Department of Political Science, has agreed to chair the search committee for our next permanent provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. We will share the full committee roster as soon as we can confirm each member’s ability to serve in this important role. The search officially will launch at the start of the 2018/2019 academic year.
Meanwhile, please join me in welcoming Dr. Ficke to San Jose State.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mary A. Papazian, President