Biography

Dr. Jim Moran joined the University of South Dakota as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs in June 2014.  The priorities of the Provost office include facilitating student success though completion of degrees that include distinctive educational experiences.  The Provost Office is committed to meeting the goals of the university strategic plan including the success of under-served and lower-income students as well as increasing the number of students receiving STEM degrees.

Before coming to South Dakota, Dr. Moran served as Vice Chancellor Prior for Academic and Student Affairs for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education working with 14 “state-owned” universities serving in various roles at PASSHE from 2005-2014.  Dr. Moran also served as interim president of Edinboro University in northwest Pennsylvania during the 2011-2012 academic year.  Prior to 2005, Dr. Moran was the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs in the University of Tennessee System Office serving as facilitator for special projects (2002-2005), Dean, College of Human Ecology at UT (1998-2002)  and Associate Dean for Research and Business Administration for Human Ecology (1989-1998). Dr. Moran concurrently served as a Vice President for the UT Research Corporation promoting the development and licensing of university intellectual property (1997-2003).

Faculty appointments include Department Head and Professor at Oklahoma State University, Associate Professor at Virginia Tech, and Assistant Professor at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Moran has over 60 publications and nearly 100 presentations primarily focused on creativity, original thinking and motivation and numerous presentations addressing student success within the university structure.