ASU colleagues, students and alumni ... ASU families, university partners and friends,
My name is Nancy Gonzales, and I am the new university provost and executive vice president
of the Academic Enterprise at Arizona State University.
While I have only been provost since July 1st, I have been part of the ASU community
for decades — a Sun D evil to the core.
I am an Arizonan who was born and raised in Miami, just 75 miles away.
I was first in my family to attend college, graduating with bachelor's degrees in psychology
and biology at ASU, at a graduation ceremony not far from where I stand now.
In the early 1990s, I returned to ASU with my PhD from the University of Washington to
serve on the faculty in the Department of Psychology.
I share this biography to emphasize the different perspectives I bring to this appointment as provost.
Students, I have experienced ASU from your perspective — eager to learn and explore
my interests, and figure out my place in the world.
Esteemed colleagues, I have also been in your shoes — committed to furthering my research
and inspiring the students who took my classes and challenged themselves on my research teams.
Most recently, I had the privilege to serve as dean of natural sciences within The College
of Liberal Arts and Sciences, which has served as a valuable proving ground for leading a
thriving and stellar academic community.
I bring to the job of provost a love and passion for this incredible university community;
an immense feeling of gratitude for the people who have shaped me; and a responsibility to
serve by listening, collaborating and keeping the needs of our diverse community of students
and scholars at the heart of the decisions we make as we design the future of the ASU
Academic Enterprise.
I’m addressing you today from the Fulton Building on ASU’s Tempe campus.
Just outside and across the street is our ASU Charter monument.
As I pass it nearly every day, its words remind me of the incredible organizing principle
that centers all of our work at ASU.
My core priority as your provost is to guide our academic community toward further realizing
our mission to be a global leader in academic excellence while maintaining open access to
any qualified learner with a goal to attend a university.
We do this bold work while advancing new knowledge and graduating students from all backgrounds,
interests and aspirations to make a positive impact in our world.
It is truly an honor to serve the ASU community as provost — a community that has meant
so much to me through different stages of my life.
I want to thank the countless colleagues and students who have shaped who I am today.
I thank the talented deans of ASU’s colleges and schools, as well as the leaders and staff
members in the Office of the Provost, who have helped me prepare for this transition.
And I thank Mark Searle, my predecessor, whose leadership throughout his career created
a lasting impact on the ASU community.
I am grateful for the trust that President Crow has placed in me, and I am thrilled to
join Sally Morton, executive vice president of the Knowledge Enterprise, and Maria Anguiano,
executive vice president of the Learning Enterprise, as we collaborate to forge a new model for
higher education.
Finally, I want to share my deepest admiration to ASU staff, professors and students.
Over the past 15 months, you have personified grace, flexibility and optimism throughout
one of the most difficult times in our lives.
Because of you, I start my tenure now with excitement for our work ahead as we return
to a robust semester on our campuses.
Thank you for your time, and I thank you in advance for your support.
I hope you all have a safe and healthy rest of your summer.
I look forward to seeing you on our campuses for the fall semester.