February 24, 2015
Jerry Baldasty named interim provost of the University of Washington
University of Washington Provost and Executive Vice President Ana Mari Cauce has selected Jerry Baldasty to serve as interim provost, effective March 3, when Cauce assumes the role of interim president. Baldasty has served as senior vice provost for academic and student affairs since 2012.
“Jerry is a candid communicator who exemplifies transparency, mutual respect and honesty — all critical values of a leader in resource-limited times,” Cauce said. “In my years as provost, I have found that genuine concern for the issues facing faculty and students is essential, which is why Jerry is perfect for the job.”
Baldasty, a professor of communication, has been a UW faculty member since 1978. He won a Distinguished Teaching Award in 2000 and served as chair of the Department of Communication from 2002 to 2008, when he moved into the role of dean and vice provost of the UW Graduate School. He is a former director of the UW Teaching Academy and has served on a variety of UW committees and boards.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to work with our new president, and our world-class faculty, students and staff, to continue and accelerate the work of this great university,” Baldasty said. “My brother reminded me today, when he saw the announcement, of the power of education in building careers and providing opportunity. None of our grandparents — three of whom were immigrants to the United States — had more than four or five years of formal education. Education has provided tremendous opportunity to me, and that is our goal for the UW — to work with our faculty and staff to provide that opportunity to all of our students.”
A native of Spokane, Baldasty received his bachelor’s degree in communications from the UW in 1972, his master’s in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1974, and his doctorate from the UW in 1978. He has authored three books and numerous articles. His academic research has focused on media in the context of politics, business, gender, race and ethnicity.
His salary will be $384,000.
