On Wednesday, President Thomas Haas from Grand Valley State University announced that they have selected Maria Cimitile to become provost and executive vice president for academic and student affairs. Cimitile is currently the associate vice president for academic affairs in Grand Valley.

She will succeed Gayle Davis, who is set to retire after holding 15 years in the position. Haas said Dr. Cimitile's keen judgment and commitment to student success suits her perfectly well to serve in the position. He added that Cimitile has excellent experience and has demonstrated great leadership in all the positions she has held at the university.

Cimitile is also widely admired by faculty, staff and students. Haas said he is confident she will perform well and cited her responsibilities include overseeing university curriculum. Her experience with budgets, strategic planning, advising and diversity has been proven to be among her many strong suits. The three-year term of service in the position will begin on July 1st with an opportunity for an extension.

Three candidates were announced in January. They were invited to participate in a campus-wide and open interview process. In Feb. 14, Haas carefully weighed the pros and cons of all the candidates and based the decision on feedback from the search committee, campus community, academic deans, board members and the president and provost cabinet.

Cimitile said she was honored and incredibly excited to accept the appointment and have the opportunity to work with the innovative faculty, staff and students at Grand Valley. She has worked at the university for nearly 20 years. She said Provost Davis was a dynamic leader and she is looking forward to building on the many accomplishments of the university.

In 1999, Cimitile join Grand Valley as an assistant professor in philosophy. In 2005, she became an associate dean for students and curriculum in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences began working in various positions within the provost office in 2009, MLive reported.

She earned her Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Memphis, her master's degree at Villanova and her bachelor's degree from College of the Holy Cross.