Gustavus President Jack Ohle has named Dr. Mark Braun Provost and Dean of Students. The announcement was made by an e-mail from Ohle the morning of March 10, and Braun will assume his position June 15.
“As the college’s chief Academic Officer, Dr. Braun will bring significant experience to the position and will make a meaningful contribution to the future of teaching and learning at the college,” Ohle said in his email to the College.
Braun returns to Gustavus from his most recent position as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. Braun has previously served Gustavus as professor and chair of the communication studies department for 17 years. From 1999 through 2007, he was Associate Dean.
“At Gustavus, Dr. Braun will oversee all academic departments and a wide range of programs and offices. These include Academic Advising, the Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library, Gustavus Technology Services, Institutional Research, International and Cultural Education, the Registrar’s Office, the Hillstrom Museum of Art, the Linnaeus Arboretum, the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation and the Nobel Conference,” Ohle said.
Braun holds a doctorate in speech-communication from the University of Minnesota, and a master’s degree in speech communication from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He has researched and published widely in the area of communication studies on topics such as technology policy making, gender and mass media organizations and communication studies pedagogy. He has presented his work and has served on panels at workshops and conferences hosted by the Council of Independent Colleges, the Lutheran Academic Officers Conference and the National Communication Association, among others.
“Dr. Braun has an extensive record of service to the field of higher education and to the communities in which he has lived,” Ohle said.
Braun was selected with the assistance of the Provost Search Committee under Dr. Darell Jodock of the Religion department.