FSU Announces New Provost and Senior VP of Academic and Student Affairs

Jul 1, 2025 8:30 AM

mike mathiasDr. Michael Mathias, currently dean of Frostburg State University’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social & Behavioral Sciences, has been named Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. He will assume his new role July 9.   

“I am confident that Mike’s long history of leadership at FSU coupled with his knowledge, skills and relationships will be invaluable assets to the University and to the Division of Academic and Student Affairs,” said FSU interim president Darlene Brannigan Smith, PhD.  

Mathias has worked at Frostburg for 17 years – ten years as a faculty member within the Department of Philosophy and seven in senior-level administrative positions. He is not new to the Office of the Provost having served as interim associate provost and then interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs from 2019-2022.

Mathias is dedicated to Frostburg’s mission, values and culture as a public comprehensive university. “With deep-rooted family ties to this area, I have an innate appreciation of the region and intense commitment to advancing its prosperity,” he said.

As an active member of the Society for College and University Planning, Mathias has extensive leadership experience with institutional and unit level strategic planning, decision-making and resource allocation. He also serves on a workgroup charged with extending FSU’s strategic plan, identifying goals and action items through 2027.

Enrollment growth is a priority at Frostburg, something that Mathias understands well. Over the past seven years, he has worked collaboratively with faculty and staff to create more than a dozen new academic programs and is committed to seeing all programs flourish. “In addition to increasing enrollments on the main campus and in Hagerstown, it is important that the University continue to expand its reach across the region, state and world,” said Mathias.

As Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Mathias will serve as Frostburg’s chief academic officer, overseeing the following:

  • The University’s three newly aligned academic colleges:
    • College of Business, Engineering, Computing & Analytics
    • College of Humanities, Arts & Sciences
    • College of Education, Behavioral & Health Professions
  • The Lewis J. Ort Library,
  • Student affairs and all academic support services, and
  • The Department of Admissions.

“The University is well-positioned to pursue a comprehensive vision of student success under my leadership,” said Mathias. “I also enjoy warm and productive relationships with the administrators and professional staff in the Division of Academic and Student Affairs, and we are mutually committed to strengthening the links between students’ academic growth and their overall development, success and engagement.”