Dr. Lesley Ann Di Mare - NSC's New President

Lesley Ann Di Mare, NSC’s executive vice president and provost, became the president of Nevada State College today.  Di Mare’s appointment was unanimously confirmed this morning by the Nevada Board of Regents during a special board meeting.

Lesley Di Mare succeeds Fred J. Maryanski, who led NSC since 2005 and passed away July 2, 2010, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Di Mare is well respected for her leadership qualities and capacity to build strong partnerships in and outside the academy.

The Nevada Board of Regents selected Di Mare following a slate of in-depth interviews with several constituencies including students, faculty, staff, community leaders, and college supporters.  The interviews were conducted by James Dean Leavitt, Chairman of the Nevada Board of Regents, and Dan Klaich, Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

In his written report to the board, Chancellor Dan Klaich praised Di Mare and provided the following rationale for recommending her:

• Nevada State is a teaching institution and the Provost understands that function and has the support of the faculty.  
  
• The college is facing an accreditation visit, which is absolutely central to its survival.  She is the best positioned person to successfully lead the college through that visit.  
  
• I am convinced of the Provost’s passion for the students of Nevada State and their success.  She understands them and enjoys their support.
  
• The Provost is an articulate spokesman for Nevada State, its mission and its place within the Nevada System of Higher Education.
  
• The Provost understands the budget of Nevada State and is best prepared, not only to defend that budget, but to work with any adjustments that might be required during the coming year.
  
• The Provost has established relationships with the Council of Presidents which appear to be collegial, respectful, and positive.  She is a team player who understands the delicate balance between institutional advocacy and the common good.
  
• The Provost is engaging and charismatic, qualities that are important for a leader at this level.
  
• The provost is deeply committed to the core value of diversity.
  
• I believe that the Provost brings just the proper blend of respect for the culture and past successes of NSC together with the energy and experience to know what changes can make it an even better institution.  

Said Di Mare: “I am honored by the Regents’ decision and their confidence in me to lead Nevada State College forward.  I am deeply committed to advancing the mission and vision of NSC so passionately developed and articulated by Dr. Fred Maryanski.  Working together, we will realize the aspirations of this remarkable college.”

After joining NSC as provost in 2007, Di Mare spearheaded a number of initiatives to enhance the college’s academic standing and visibility in the community.  Working with faculty and administration, Di Mare developed NSC’s Standards of Academe which provides the campus community clear expectations and criteria for making progress towards promotion and tenure as well as merit.  Dr. Di Mare also led the development of the Technology Fellows Institute, a program that affords faculty and staff the opportunity to produce and deliver innovative pedagogy in the classroom through technology.  As the college’s chief academic officer, Di Mare was also responsible for overseeing the institution’s path towards accreditation.

Before joining NSC as provost, Dr. Di Mare held administrative positions at California State University Los Angeles and at Arizona State University where she served as Department Chair of Communication Studies for eleven years, Interim Dean of the College of Human Services for two years, and Associate Vice Provost of Undergraduate Studies for two years. In her administrative capacity, Dr. Di Mare implemented the Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, the Communication Learning Assessment Lab, and the Japan Business Library.

She has published articles on American and Japanese communication styles, gender and communication, and rhetoric and persuasion. Dr. Di Mare has worked closely with many community agencies and consulted with the Japan External Trade Organization (Los Angeles), the Ministry of International Trade (Tokyo), and other international organizations. She was a visiting fellow at Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK and at the Japan Studies Institute, San Diego State University, 2003. From 1988-1990, Dr. Di Mare served as Communications Advisor to the Representative of the Nagano Prefecture, JETRO.