University names FSU provost president

University names FSU provost president

Fritz Erickson. Courtesy Northern Michigan University

Northern Michigan University in Marquette named the provost of Ferris State University its 15th president.

Fritz Erickson, who was selected among four finalists, will succeed David Haynes, who is returning to the Northern Michigan faculty in July.

Erickson is also vice president for academic affairs at FSU in Big Rapids.

Northern Michigan said Tuesday that Erickson will begin the position on July 1.

"I am deeply honored to have been selected," Erickson said. "I believe Northern has great faculty, great staff and fantastic students, and I look forward to being their president."

Rising through ranks

Rick Popp, chairman of the university's board of trustees, said Erickson has "the credentials and the right kind of personality and drive to help take Northern to another level.”

“He has held many different key positions: teacher, professor, working up through the administrative ranks and now provost,” Popp said. “In every job he's had, he's succeeded."

Background

Erickson has served as dean of the College of Professional and Graduate Studies at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay.

Previously, he served as dean and professor in the College of Education and Human Development at Eastern Washington University and professor and chairman of the education department at Michigan Technological University.

Erickson earned his bachelor's degree in social sciences at Western Michigan University and master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Northern Colorado.