Kent State University's Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Todd Diacon has announced that Swathi Ravichandran, Ph.D., will join the Office of the Provost in August to serve as the 2017-2018 Provost's Fellow.
The provost's fellowship provides faculty members who have an interest in academic administration the chance to develop knowledge, skills and experience as an administrator; increase the understanding of the faculty about practices and procedures in academic administration; extend and strengthen the administrative resources of the university; assist in the development and implementation of projects in key areas; and provide ongoing faculty involvement and input into the activities of the Office of the Provost.
"Swathi's deep scholarly expertise combined with her administrative experience to date makes her a welcomed addition to the Office of the Provost," Diacon says.
Ravichandran joined Kent State in 2005 as an assistant professor in hospitality management in the College of Education, Health and Human Services. She was promoted to associate professor in 2011, and has served as the coordinator of the hospitality management (B.S.) and the hospitality and tourism management (M.S.) degree programs since 2013. In 2015, Ravichandran was recognized as a Meetings Trendsetter by Meetings Focus. She received the Distinguished Educator of the Year award from the Professional Convention Management Association in 2014 and a commendation from the 131st Ohio General Assembly naming her one of "Ohio's finest educators."
Ravichandran earned her Ph.D. in Food Service and Lodging Management and an MBA from Iowa State University.
"I am incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Provost Fellow during the upcoming academic year," Ravichandran says. "I have a strong interest in academic administration and look forward to learning more about larger issues that impact Kent State University and contribute to student success."
For more information about the Office of the Provost, visit www.kent.edu/provost.