Ferris provost and vice president of academic affairs has just been named president of Northern Michigan University.
NMU narrowed down 54 applicants to 10 semifinalists. After extensive interviews, four finalists were selected for the position as the University’s president.
Dr. Fritz Erickson was selected as one of four finalists. He visited NMU on April 8 to give a public presentation. On April 22 Erickson was chosen. He will assume his new role on July 1.
Erickson has served as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Ferris since 2009.
“Dr. Erickson is doing excellent work as provost at Ferris State University,” Ferris President David Eisler said. “He is a superb colleague and a very good leader for academic affairs and our university.”
Erickson said he was impressed with the friendliness of the Ferris community.
“I have enjoyed stopping students walking across campus to have conversations, attending events on campus and the wonderful community opportunities,” Erickson said.
Before coming to Ferris, Dr. Erickson served six years as Dean of the College of Professional and Graduate Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Erickson was Dean of the College of Education and Human Development at Eastern Washington University, Chair and Professor of Education and Psychology at Michigan Technological University, and Senior Educational Consultant for the Colorado Department of Education.
For more than 10 years Erickson taught at Millersville University of Pennsylvania.
“Dr. Erickson brings an exceptional background of experience and accomplishment to our University,” Eisler said. “In addition to his leadership work at the university level, he has been very successful in securing grant support for cooperative international projects, diversity efforts and in encouraging student educational success.”
Erickson has special interest in education reform and has worked on projects to engage public higher education in Pakistan, Jordan and other countries in the Middle East. He also is passionate about promoting safe and effective learning environments for all students.
“I very much hate to lose [Dr. Erickson] as a member of our leadership team,” Eisler said, “However if [he] wants to become a college president, he is well prepared for this and [will] be an excellent leader for Northern Michigan University.”