University News

Abraham Named WIU Provost

May 10, 2019

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL -- Martin Abraham, professor of civil/environmental and chemical engineering and former provost at Youngstown State University, has been named provost and academic vice president at Western Illinois University, effective July 1.

Abraham has served as a professor of civil/environmental and chemical engineering at Youngstown State University since 2007. He served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Youngstown from 2015-2018. Previously, he was the interim provost (2014-2015) and founding dean, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (2007-2014), at Youngstown. He has also served as the dean, College of Graduate Studies (2006-2007), dean of the Graduate School (2004-2006), associate dean, Research and Graduate Studies, College of Engineering (2000-2004), Chemical Engineering undergraduate program coordinator (1996-2000) and professor of engineering (1996-2007) at the University of Toledo.

"Dr. Abraham's many years of academic leadership, as well as his background in enrollment initiatives, strategic planning, program development and community partnerships, will further enhance the University's academic programs," WIU President Jack Thomas said. "I extend my appreciation to the search committee, chaired by Faculty Senate Chair Christopher Pynes, for their efforts in this process."

An American Institute of Chemical Engineers and American Chemical Society Fellow, Abraham is the editor of Environmental Progress and Sustainable Energy and the Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies. He is also a member of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Honor Society and Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society.

"I look forward to joining WIU and working with the faculty and President Thomas to expand the high quality academic offerings that serve our students and the people of western Illinois and beyond," Abraham said.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Fireline, Inc., a manufacturer of ceramic products for the aerospace industry, the Youngstown Business Incubator and Mercy Health Systems. Abraham is a founding member of Advance Methods in Innovation (AMI), which develops and markets STEM educational programs for the K-12 audience, with a particular emphasis on underrepresented high school students.

Abraham earned his doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware (1987) and his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1982).

The provost and vice president for academic affairs serves as the chief academic officer of the University with responsibility for academic and internal leadership. The provost reports directly to the president and is the primary representative of the president in his absence. The provost leads the University-wide community to promote the highest academic standards and the University's core values at both the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses; provides leadership in planning, developing, implementing and assessing all academic programs; has primary responsibility for contract administration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for faculty and support staff and a significant portion of the University budget; provides overall leadership for continued growth of international and life-long learning programs, distance education, faculty development and the Honors College; and supervises senior staff and many service areas that are responsible for achieving the University's established major goals identified by the president and the Board of Trustees.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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