Erickson selected for provost spot at Ferris State University
GREEN BAY – Fritz Erickson, dean of the college of professional and graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Ferris State University.
President David L. Eisler made the announcement today (Thursday, Feb. 12) at Ferris State, a public institution of about 13,000 students located in west-central Michigan. Erickson was one of five finalists invited to visit the Big Rapids campus for interviews last month.
Fritz Erickson
“While I am deeply honored to be selected by Ferris State and look forward to the new friends, opportunities and challenges, it is with a heavy heart that I leave UW-Green Bay,” Erickson said in a statement to the campus community. “UW-Green Bay is a wonderful school with talented faculty and staff and outstanding students. I will always consider my time here as one of the best of my life and I will truly miss the many friends and colleagues that I have made.”
Erickson’s appointment as Ferris State provost is effective July 1.
“I have been a dean for nine years and the opportunity to expand my interests and serve as a provost, particularly at Ferris, has great appeal,” Erickson said about today’s announcement. “Ferris’ unique combination of professional and liberal arts programming is a real fit for me along with the opportunity to work with multiple location programming.”
Prior to joining UW-Green Bay in 2003, Erickson was dean of the college of education and human development at Eastern Washington University; and chair and professor of education and psychology at Michigan Technological University. He taught for more than 10 years at Millersville University of Pennsylvania and before that was an elementary, middle school and community college teacher. He holds master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Northern Colorado.
Erickson earned his bachelor’s degree at Western Michigan University, and his wife, Jan, formerly lived in Saginaw. He notes the move to Ferris State will bring his family closer to relatives in the Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Muskegon areas and the family home in Arcadia.
The dean of the college of professional and graduate studies is one of two academic deans at UW-Green Bay. The other is the dean of the college of liberal arts and sciences. Erickson has academic and administrative responsibility for undergraduate programs in business, education, nursing and social work as well as graduate programs in management, education, social work and environmental science and policy. He also oversees service units including the Institute for Research, the Institute for Learning Partnership, and the NEW Partnership for Children and Families.
Erickson has maintained a special interest in education reform and has worked on projects to engage public higher education in Pakistan, Jordan and other countries in the Middle East. He also is passionate about promoting safe and effective learning environments for all students, having written more than 50 texts on educational subjects and technology. He frequently presents on the topic of cyber-bullying and the impact on children and families.
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