Fresh Face, Familiar Role: Garimella Appoints Vermont Provost as UA’s New Underboss

University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella has appointed Patricia Prelock as the new provost, signaling a significant leadership transition at the institution. Prelock, who has served as provost at the University of Vermont since 2019, will officially step into her role at UA on May 19.

Garimella, who held the same position at UV before becoming UA’s president last October, described Prelock as his “enforcer” for academic affairs. In addition to her duties as provost, she will also serve as senior vice president for academic affairs and is under consideration for a faculty appointment, according to university officials.

Prelock’s academic background is extensive. Specializing in clinical speech-language pathology, she briefly held the role of interim president at UV following Garimella’s departure. Her previous positions include a decade as the dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and seven years as chair of the Department of Communication Sciences.

A comprehensive search process led to her selection as provost, with Prelock chosen from four finalists by a 14-member committee comprising UA faculty, staff, and students. The other contenders included Eric Barker from Purdue University and William Bernhard from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The provost position has been tumultuous over the past year. Prelock succeeds Ronald W. Marx, who served as interim provost after Jon Glover’s unexpected resignation last year, just weeks after his appointment. Glover’s departure was part of broader leadership changes following financial concerns raised by university officials.

Preparations for Prelock’s arrival coincide with ongoing efforts to stabilize UA’s administration amid a recent financial crisis disclosed to the Arizona Board of Regents. Meanwhile, campus morale is a focus, with Prelock emphasizing her commitment to enhancing academic success and community engagement.

Prelock, an expert on autism research and interprofessional education, has a notable record of scholarship with over 220 publications and nearly $25 million in funding for research projects. Her educational qualifications include a doctorate in speech-language pathology from the University of Pittsburgh and degrees from Kent State University.

Expressing her enthusiasm for joining UA, Prelock noted the extraordinary talent and commitment within the community, highlighting her alignment with the university’s mission and vision for future growth.