Friesen named Judson permanent provost
From Staff Reports November 30, 2012 10:38AM
Wilbert J. Friesen, named permanent provost and chief academic officer of Judson University
Updated: December 1, 2012 9:43PM
ELGIN — Wilbert J. Friesen has been appointed permanent provost and chief academic officer of Judson University.
University President William Crothers made the announcement, saying the appointment was effective Saturday.
Friesen has been serving as acting provost since July 1. The appointment comes with the unanimous support of the president’s advisory committee, a faculty-elected committee to advise the president, the four school deans, and the executive committee of the board of trustees, according to a release from the university.
Friesen provides executive leadership for academic affairs, student development, and athletics and has provided exceptional service leading much of the transformation of Judson University in recent months, the release said.
He has extensive experience in higher education leadership as well as teaching. He was on the faculty and in various academic leadership positions at Fresno Pacific University in California for more than 16 years, followed by service at Malone University in Ohio as provost and interim president. He has had numerous articles in professional publications and has been on the editorial committee and served as peer review editor of two journals. Early in his career he owned and operated several small construction companies.
“Judson’s Board of Trustees is delighted by Dr. Friesen’s willingness to serve at Judson long term,” said Carol Thompson, chair of the board. “We have appreciated his exceptional work and look forward to the ongoing impact of his outstanding academic leadership.”
Robert Wallace, faculty moderator for Judson University, said, “Dr. Friesen is a man of integrity and spiritual sensitivity. His knowledge of higher education is impressive, and I am certain his leadership will strengthen Judson’s academic identity.”
