The Michigan State University Board of Trustees has approved the appointment of June Pierce Youatt as MSU provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.
The board took the action at its April 22 meeting. The appointment is effective immediately.
Youatt has served as MSU’s acting provost since January 2013. Prior to that she served as associate provost for undergraduate education (2002-2006) and senior associate provost (2006-2012).
The provost is the university’s chief academic officer, providing leadership for matters that affect academic programs, research and outreach involving faculty, students and staff.
Youatt came to MSU as an undergraduate student, earning a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 1973. She went on to earn a master’s degree (1976) and doctorate (1983) in curriculum and instruction from the MSU College of Education.
In 1983 she joined the faculty of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and rose to the rank of full professor.
In addition, from 1993 to 1997, she served as a specialist with MSU Extension, providing leadership to field staff in parenting education and developing programs for teaching parenting skills.
Youatt succeeds Kim Wilcox, who now serves as chancellor of the University of California, Riverside.