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<\/a>Faculty, staff, students and community members gathered in the Student Union Atrium on Sept. 18 to meet Provost Susan Edwards, who joined Wright State in July. (Video by Kris Sproles \/ Photos by Chris Snyder)<\/p><\/div>\n
Edwards called Wright State students \u201cfantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have met so many of them,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are here to provide our students with the utmost transformational, educational experience that they can have. And I\u2019m very pleased to say we have the faculty who can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
After making brief remarks, Edwards individually greeted a long line of well-wishers.<\/p>\n
It was the first time Lee Hannah, assistant professor of political science, had met Edwards. He said she is very personable.<\/p>\n
\u201c<\/strong>I think we have a lot of fresh perspective and new energy in this administration now,\u201d Hannah said. \u201cWe\u2019re enthusiastic just to see some creativity and the new plans that come forward. I\u2019m optimistic and looking forward to what comes.\u201d<\/p>\n Schrader said Edwards exhibits a \u201cgrowth mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA growth mindset is really what allows you to take those challenges that we\u2019ll always have, turn them into opportunity and just leverage them in a way that will help us move forward as a university,\u201d Schrader said.<\/p>\n Edwards chairs the new Growth Mindset Advisory Team, an advisory group of faculty, staff, administrators and trustees.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m always mindful of what\u2019s in the rearview mirror, but when I\u2019m driving the car I am always looking forward,” said Edwards. \u201cAs an institution we have a lot to be proud of and we need to work together to move forward.”<\/p>\n Edwards sees her role at Wright State as making sure people have the tools they need to be successful.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to be true to our mission and our values. That\u2019s the reason I came here \u2014 the values of Wright State aligned with mine,\u201d she said. \u201cI think we provide an opportunity for students to get a high-quality education that can truly transform their futures. That\u2019s what I\u2019m happy to be part of.\u201d<\/p>\n Provost Susan Edwards told the audience at the reception that Wright State needs to turn its challenges into opportunities that will help the university move forward.<\/p><\/div>\n Edwards was selected as provost after a four-month national search that included a diverse pool of approximately 50 candidates.<\/p>\n She had served as vice provost for faculty affairs and professor of biology at Appalachian State in Boone, North Carolina, since August 2015. She was responsible for overseeing all areas of faculty evaluation and development and served as the academic affairs liaison on all personnel matters.<\/p>\n In 2007, Edwards left her native Australia to join the Department of Biology at Appalachian State. She then took on a leadership role as assistant chair for three years before being appointed chair of the department in 2012.<\/p>\n Previously, she was the Australian equivalent of an associate professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology and served as dean\u2019s campus liaison at the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences at James Cook University in Australia. She also served as a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Biology at Georgia Southern University.<\/p>\n Edwards earned a Ph.D. in comparative physiology from Deakin University in Victoria, Australia, an M.S. in neuroscience from The University of Melbourne and her B.S. in biology from Deakin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Faculty, staff, students and community members gathered in the Student Union Atrium on Sept. 18 to hear and meet Provost Susan Edwards. Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/files\/2018\/09\/Susan-Edwards-reception-20527_031-508x353.jpg\")
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