Office of the Provost

About Provost Susan Edwards

Susan Edwards joined Wright State University as the executive vice president for academic affairs and provost on July 30, 2018.

Edwards was drawn to Wright State because of the university's core values and dedication to students. "Wright State's values as an institution are similar to the values that I hold dear — student-centered, student-oriented, and very dedicated faculty and staff," she said.

She sees the role of provost as one “that supports the faculty, students, and the staff of the university to ensure we maintain the strong academic mission that is at the heart of Wright State University.”

One key area she will place her initial focus on is the creation of a strong enrollment management plan, one that not only targets growth through the recruitment of a diverse student population, but one that also employs innovative methods to suport student retention and improved pathways to timely graduation.

Prior to joining Wright State, Edwards served as vice provost for faculty affairs and professor of biology at Appalachian State in Boone, North Carolina. As vice provost, she oversaw all areas of faculty evaluation and development; served as the academic affairs liaison on all personnel matters; was the legislated responsible officer for free speech on campus; and led the Office of Equity Diversity and Compliance.

Edwards received a Ph.D. in comparative physiology from Deakin University in Victoria, Australia, an M.S. in neuroscience from The University of Melbourne, and her B.S. in biology from Deakin.

In 2007, Edwards left her native Australia to join the Department of Biology at Appalachian State. She eventually took on a leadership role as assistant chair for three years before being appointed chair of the Department of Biology in 2012.

Previously, she was a faculty member in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology and served as the dean's liaison for the Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Molecular Sciences at James Cook University in Australia. She also served as visiting assistant professor in Department of Biology at Georgia Southern University.

She has taught numerous courses into 10 different degree programs including veterinary science, medicine, biology, pharmacy, biomedical science, aquaculture, medical laboratory science, physiotherapy, exercise science, education, and nursing. In addition , she has taught in university programs localized within indigenous communities in Victoria, Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait Islands in Australia. In her research career, she served as a research assistant in the Brain Research Unit and Autonomic Neuroscience Group at The University of Melbourne.

Edwards has published more than 30 research papers and two book chapters, co-edited the book Hagfish Biology, and served on the editorial board of Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology from 2006 to 2018.

She has secured almost $1.3 million in research funding from the National Science Foundation and $108,000 in funding from the Australian Research Council.

She also participated in the American Council on Education's Spectrum Aspiring Leaders Program in 2016 and the BRIDGES Academic leadership for Women at the University of North Carolina in 2014.

Reports

• Academic Organization Review Steering Committee (ARC) Report (PDF)
• IT/Web Efficiencies Committee Report (PDF)
• Office of the Vice President for Research 360 Report (PDF)
• University Center for International Education (UCIE) 360 Report (PDF)

Administrative Divisions and Offices

Colleges and Schools