Steadman Upham Named New TU President
STEADMAN & PEGGY UPHAM
GTR Newspapers photo
Steadman Upham, who was president of Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California, since 1998, was recently named as the University of Tulsa’s new president.
The announcement was made by Fulton Collins, chairman of TU’s Board of Trustees, who said, “I am especially pleased to announce Dr. Upham’s appointment. He is the candidate who most closely meets the specifications set forth by the search committee. He was the last candidate we interviewed and if he had been the first candidate, our search would have been over months ago.”
“My wife and I are very excited about coming to TU and Tulsa,” notes Upham. “We view this as a tremendous opportunity especially in consideration of the work that has been accomplished in the past eight years. This offers a most attractive foundation on which to build and it’s exactly what we have been looking for.”
Collins adds, “The university is very fortunate to have attracted a candidate with such impressive academic and administrative credentials. He will bring the skills, expertise, and vision to move TU along its path of achieving continued academic recognition and excellence. Dr. Upham is the best person to sustain and further the momentum we have already achieved.”
The search for a new president began last fall when current TU president Bob Lawless announced his retirement effective the end of the academic year ending in May of 2004. The Presidential Search Committee consisted of 13 committee members supported by a secretary. University Trustees David R. Lawson and Collins served as co-chairmen of the committee. The committee represented several university constituencies, including trustees, faculty, alumni, and students. The group met regularly and reviewed more than 100 applications and determined which candidates needed further consideration.
Upham, who will be TU’s 17th president, will succeed Lawless. Lawless will continue as president until July 16 at which time Roger Blais, provost and vice president for academic affairs, will assume the position of interim president until Upham arrives, which is expected to be no later than October. However, Upham will attend major university functions.
Prior to his presidency at Claremont, Upham served as vice provost for research and dean of the graduate school at the University of Oregon from 1990 to 1998, where his responsibilities included the academic and administrative functions for the university’s 21 research centers and institutes. He also was a professor in the anthropology department.
Upham, 55 years old, earned a Ph.D. in anthropology from Arizona State University in 1980, where he also earned an M.A. in the same field. He has a B.A. from the University of Redlands, where his major areas of study were English literature and Spanish.
Upham has received numerous awards and has been published extensively in his academic field including books and edited volumes, articles in journals, and chapters in collections, books, and monographs.
Upham is married to Peggy, who is a silversmith and designs jewelry. They have two children, Erin who is a graduate of and works at Carnegie-Mellon in Pittsburgh, and Nathan, a junior majoring in biology at Occidental College in California.
Updated 07-14-2004
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