Suzanne McBride, the college’s dean of faculty affairs, was named interim provost effective Tuesday, June 3. 

McBride served as the former chair of the School of Communication and was associate chair of the Department of Journalism, two departmental units that no longer exist. Prior to her role as the dean of faculty affairs, she served as the dean of graduate studies. 

 Interim President and CEO Jerry Tarrer made the announcement in a campuswide email. 

McBride is taking over from outgoing Provost Marcella David, who had been at the college for six years. 

“I’m beyond excited,” McBride told the Chronicle. “I’m just humbled and excited about this new role. Columbia has been my home and heart for 20 years. I’ve never worked any place longer, and I’m really ready to build on all the hard work we’ve done, especially these last few years.”

Tarrer announced that David would leave the college the day after commencement. He said he would name an interim chief academic officer and would provide more information regarding the national search for a permanent provost. 

McBride, a professor in the School of Communication and Culture, has worked as an editor at the Chicago Sun-Times since 2016. Before joining Columbia in 2005, she was part of the Indianapolis Star as the assistant managing editor and as the city editor, Statehouse bureau chief and an investigative reporter.

McBride taught two classes in Spring 2025. She co-taught the study abroad course in Ireland and a CCCX 200 course called “People, Power, and Narrative Storytelling through Grief.”

Later this month, she is scheduled to take five students to the annual Investigative, Reporters & Editors conference in New Orleans.

McBride said that the college is “moving pretty quickly to get the search committee seated” and that she is finalizing the interim successor for dean of faculty affairs.

“We’re at this critical moment with an institution and a place I so love, and I’m just really honored to be stepping into this role, and I will do all I can to make sure I hand off to the next person,” McBride said.

Karla Fuller, newly elected Faculty Senate president and professor in the School of Film and Television, said she is looking forward to a mutually beneficial relationship between the provost’s office and the Faculty Senate, especially at this transitional time.

 “I couldn’t be happier to work with Interim Provost Suzanne McBride. She has been a wonderful dean of Faculty Affairs, and I very much look forward to working with her in her new capacity,” Fuller said. “I believe we can work together to make Columbia College Chicago an even better place for the faculty and student body where all feel respected and included with a sense of belonging to a strong creative community.”

In a phone interview, McBride said her top priorities will be continuity and stability.

“I want to minimize disruptions to how we do things in the academic part of the institution, and particularly how we engage with all of you as students,” McBride said, adding that she will be looking closely at the new registration system that was implemented this past spring semester.

The system is part of a new student portal that will combine class registration, financial aid awards and other self-service tools, as the Chronicle previously reported. 

Communication is also one thing McBride wants to focus on to ensure that the college successfully shares its stories both within the community and to a wider audience.

“I definitely want to make sure that we have as much internal communication among students, faculty, staff, and also alums who are still part of our community whenever things are happening, when decisions are being made, even the tough ones,” she said. 

McBride said she plans to be visible on campus.

“I also want to build on what I’ve already been doing this last year in my current role as dean of faculty affairs, to keep track of all the wonderfully creative and professional scholarly work that the faculty are doing, both full and part time,” McBride said. “So if anyone thinks they want to make sure I saw their latest bit of work, be sure to send it my way.”

This story has been updated.

Copy edited by Vanessa Orozco

Resumen en español

Suzanne McBride ha sido nombrada Provost Interina de Columbia College Chicago a partir del 3 de junio de 2025, mientras se lleva a cabo la búsqueda nacional de un provost permanente. Ha ocupado cargos clave en Columbia desde 2005 y aporta una amplia experiencia académica y profesional, incluida su labor como editora en el Chicago Sun-Times.

Como becaria Fulbright y experta en periodismo comunitario, McBride ha liderado iniciativas mediáticas internacionales y ha lanzado sitios de noticias locales con participación estudiantil. Se desempeñará como preboste interina hasta que se nombre una persona permanente para el cargo.

Resumen en español escrito por Manuel Nocera