Prabu David, dean of MSU’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences since 2015, has been selected to serve as the next associate provost for faculty and academic staff development, effective July 1, 2022. He will retain his role as dean until the next leader of the college is seated, following a national search that will begin in the fall.
Marilyn Amey, interim associate provost for faculty and academic staff development, will continue her work in the Office of Faculty and Academic Staff Development, assuming the new role of assistant provost. With her leadership since July 2020, the office has expanded its portfolio of programming and services to reach a broader range of faculty and academic staff members, including those in, or aspiring to, leadership positions.
“It is a time of great momentum for the Office of Faculty and Academic Staff Development, with its recent work related to fostering institutional courage, intellectual health, honorifics, and Dean’s School – all new this past academic year,” said MSU Provost Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D. “The addition of Dr. David and continued service of Dr. Amey will add to that momentum and expand the office’s presence as a center spoke to promote the development of whole scholars here at MSU – cultivating all aspects of instruction, research and creative endeavors, and outreach and engagement.”
In addition to his current role as dean, David oversees WKAR Radio and TV. He served on MSU’s university-wide 2030 strategic planning committee, DEI steering committee, and presidential search committee, which expanded his perspective of the challenges and opportunities associated with a complex university like MSU with multiple stakeholders. He also has led or participated in several committees to foster campuswide collaboration between the arts and sciences.
During David’s tenure as dean, the College of Communication Arts and Sciences made strides in student and faculty success, establishing the college as one of the top-ranked colleges in the discipline. Significant accomplishments include six new undergraduate majors, two new online master’s programs, and a new doctoral curriculum. The college and WKAR raised approximately $70 million through development during this time, resulting in five chaired professorships, scholarships, experiential learning, and new labs for teaching and research.
“Serving as dean of ComArtSci has been a privilege and honor. Over the last eight years, we have made progress in student and faculty success, inclusiveness, and excellence, firmly establishing our college as one of the leaders in the discipline,” said David. “I am excited to work with the provost and our Faculty and Academic Staff Development team to foster a culture in support of the values articulated in the MSU 2030 plan and create opportunities that enable faculty and staff at MSU to realize their full potential through teaching, research, creative works, and outreach. It is important that we integrate all facets of our mission to achieve purpose and fulfillment in our work.”
David’s research focuses on media and cognition with active projects in multitasking, trustworthy AI, and leadership. He has served as an investigator or co-investigator on projects funded by the National Association of Broadcasters, National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of State, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Over the years, he has won awards for research, teaching, and design.
From 2010 to 2015, David was a professor and associate dean at the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University, where he was instrumental in recruiting faculty and developing the administrative framework of a newly founded college. Prior to his time at WSU, he was on the faculty at Ohio State University.
David earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Loyola College, Chennai, India, a master’s degree in journalism from Ohio University, and a doctoral degree in mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.