Provost Melanie Perreault named Towson University interim president
Perreault, TU’s chief academic officer since 2019, assumes interim role Feb. 1, 2023
By TOWSON UNIVERSITY on December 8, 2022
Dr. Melanie Perreault, Towson University’s provost and executive vice president for academic and student affairs, has been named interim president by University System of Maryland Chancellor Jay A. Perman. Dr. Perreault will assume the role on Feb. 1, 2023.
Last week, it was announced that after seven years at TU, President Kim Schatzel will become the 19th president of the University of Louisville effective Feb. 1, 2023.
In a message to the TU community on Thursday, Perman wrote, “Dr. Perreault has been central to TU’s growth and success over the past four years… I know she’ll continue to guide the university with the same vision, care, and confidence that have characterized her [tenure at TU].”
Perreault has served as TU’s chief academic officer since Feb. 2019. In her role, she oversees 125 degree programs (undergraduate, master’s and four doctorate), and supported nearly 23,000 students annually, more than 1,700 full-time and adjunct faculty, and over 200 staff and administrators. She is also responsible for the creation and implementation of the university’s academic priorities and provides leadership over TU’s six academic colleges, the Honors College, the Office of Graduate Studies, the Albert S. Cook Library and TU’s growing research enterprise. As provost, Perreault also oversees the Division of Student Affairs and the Division of Enrollment Management.
"I am honored to further serve this remarkable institution as interim president, and I look forward to working with our outstanding leadership team to continue Towson University's rising momentum," said Perreault. "I thank Chancellor Perman and the USM Board of Regents for their trust and confidence, as well as President Schatzel for her tremendous guidance and support."
Perreault has spearheaded the university’s strategic goal of obtaining R2 Carnegie Classification for high research activity, and earlier this year, oversaw the process to expand TU’s mission statement to place greater emphasis on research and doctoral programming. She also led TU’s COVID-19 response team during the height of the pandemic and led the implementation of TU’s strategic plan.
Of Perreault’s appointment as interim president, Schatzel said, “Dr. Perreault is an exceptional leader and a true champion for Towson University. Her dedication to student success, faculty excellence and institutional inclusion make her the perfect choice to lead the TU community during this important transition. I look forward to supporting her and the rest of TU’s senior leadership team in the weeks ahead."
In his letter to the TU community, Chancellor Perman also noted that the search for the next president will be conducted by Isaacson, Miller, one of the country’s premier executive search firms. The TU community will have the opportunity to be involved in the process, details of which will be announced in the new year. A TU website for the search process is also planned to launch in the coming weeks.
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