Provost Sam Savin Announces Retirement from New College; He’ll Serve as Exec. Liaison for Foundation Relations in ’09-10
New College of Florida Provost Sam Savin has announced that he will resign his position effective July 1 in preparation for retirement from the College in May 2010. In an email to the campus community informing faculty and staff of Savin’s decision, New College President Mike Michalson stated that for the 2009-2010 academic year Savin will serve as the College’s Executive Liaison for Foundation Relations.
“I know all of you join me in thanking Sam for his commitment to the College, his hard work and his willingness to take on multiple tasks both large and small,” said President Michalson in announcing Savin’s decision to the campus community. “I owe Sam a personal debt of gratitude for the many things he has done for New College and for me.”
In light of Savin’s departure from the Office of the Provost, Michalson announced that former Provost Charlene Callahan has agreed to return to the position for the upcoming transitional period.
A professor of geochemistry, Savin was named provost and vice president for academic affairs at New College in May 2006 following a successful career at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. While at Case Western, Savin served as associate dean (1993-2000), interim dean (2000-2001) and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (2001-2003).
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate in chemistry from Colgate University, he holds a Ph.D. in geochemistry from the California Institute of Technology and is the author and co-author of two books, as well as more than 100 scholarly and popular articles. For achievements in his field, Savin was named a Geochemistry Fellow by the Geochemical Society (GS) and the European Association for Geochemistry (EAG) in spring 2009.
During his tenure as provost and vice president for academic affairs at New College, Savin successfully guided the College through the creation of a new academic master plan and began development of a strategic plan for the arts. Savin and members of his office were also instrumental in helping New College receive reaccreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in October 2008. Additional achievements included the implementation of improved procedures for faculty orientation and promotion of the College’s aim of strengthening relations between academic and student affairs on campus.
In his new role as Executive Liaison for Foundation Relations in 2009-2010, Savin will help strengthen the College’s fundraising capacity by building stronger relationships between the College and its alumnae/i, as well as corporate partners and members of the local community.
“Sam’s skills and experience in the area of donor relations and cultivation are well known and will be an institutional asset during these challenging budgetary times,” said Michalson about Savin’s new role with the College.
For more information, please contact the New College Office of Public Affairs at (941) 487-4150 or email [email protected].