Provost Laurie McCauley is recommending Thomas A. Finholt, dean in the School of Information, as the University of Michigan’s next vice provost for academic and budgetary affairs, effective Aug. 15, 2022. Finholt sent this email message to the UMSI community following the announcement:

With today’s announcement by the Provost, pending Regental approval, my term as dean of the School of Information will end next month. It has been a great pleasure and honor to lead UMSI over the past seven years. I will miss the daily inspiration and motivation I received from working with such an impressive community of students, staff, faculty and alumni. During my term we have accomplished great things together and I’m grateful for everyone’s contributions to that success.

I’m leaving UMSI with a solid foundation for continued impact and visibility. Our finances and fundraising are in excellent shape. Our academic programs are thriving. Our staff and faculty are enthusiastically engaged around our mission to help people use information, with technology, to make a better world. In the spring of 2025 we will move into our new home in the Leinweber Computer Science and Information Building. Finally, while much work remains to be done, UMSI has advanced meaningfully to meet our DEI goals. One of my proudest accomplishments as dean was receiving the Rhetaugh G. Dumas Progress in Diversifying Award on behalf of UMSI in recognition of our impressive progress in building faculty diversity.

In the days ahead the Provost will seek and analyze your input on the selection of an interim dean to lead UMSI during the coming academic year. In the fall I anticipate the announcement of a search advisory committee to identify the next permanent dean. I have no doubt that there will be a wealth of outstanding candidates and you will be in good hands going forward.

While I am sad to be leaving UMSI - my academic home for the past quarter century - I am excited by the opportunity to join the Provost’s Office in an important role. I look forward to working with Provost McCauley to help her meet the challenges facing U-M and to maintain our position as a leading public university. In this work I will take with me the lessons learned and wisdom gained while leading UMSI.

I will miss seeing all of you - but I won’t be far away in the Ruthven Building. Please come and visit and share news of UMSI!

My deep thanks to all of you - and my best wishes to all for the future.

Tom

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