Provost Search
University of Akron Dean Named UToledo Provost
May 29, 2025
A nationally recognized political communication scholar and dean at an Ohio public university has been named The University of Toledo’s next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.
Dr. Mitchell S. McKinney will join UToledo on July 14 from the University of Akron, where he has served since 2021 as dean of the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences. The largest and oldest degree-granting college at the University of Akron, the college comprises five academic divisions: education, fine arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, organized into 24 schools and departments, as well as 10 academic centers and institutes.
An academic leader in political communication, McKinney is recognized as an authority on presidential debates. He previously served 21 years at the University of Missouri as a professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Communication and School of Journalism and held several academic leadership positions, including director of graduate studies and chair of the Department of Communication. His appointment as faculty fellow for academic affairs in the Office of the Provost at Missouri, initially a one-year term, evolved into a three-year appointment where he served in the role of acting deputy provost during a period of significant administrative transition.
“With exceptional faculty and staff, outstanding students and devoted alumni, UToledo has established itself as a forward-thinking university well positioned to confront the many challenges facing higher education,” McKinney said. “Those of us involved in the enterprise of higher education are privileged to spend our lives as part of a community where learning and the creation and sharing of knowledge for the betterment of society is our work. I am excited for the opportunity to serve as the chief academic officer of a truly great university like The University of Toledo, one of our state and nation’s premier R1 public research universities committed to student success and public impact.”
While at the University of Akron, McKinney improved student enrollment and retention, grew faculty research, fostered greater community involvement and increased alumni engagement and philanthropic support.
The creation of several new in-demand degree programs, certificates and micro-credentials contributed to new student enrollment growth of approximately 12% in three years, achieving the first increases in the college’s new student enrollment in over a decade. McKinney also created an all-encompassing Office of Advising and Student Success with streamlined academic advising, enhanced student financial support and career services, and expanded community-based experiential learning opportunities that led to an increased first-to-second-year student retention from 68% to nearly 80% in three years.
As dean, McKinney increased annual fundraising each year, more than doubling the annual gifts received over the past four years. He also developed faculty research and scholarship by creating innovation funds to support faculty research start-ups, grew federal and industry grants and established interdisciplinary research centers and institutes.
“The University conducted a national search for its next provost and developed an outstanding pool of candidates, from which Dr. McKinney clearly rose to the top,” said Dr. James Holloway, who was recently named UToledo’s 19th president, effective July 15. “When I interviewed with him, I was struck by his thoughtful successes in growing enrollment, enhancing the student experience, developing programs strategically, supporting faculty research and engaging alumni. I was equally struck by his optimism and by the positive spirit he brings to his work. I look forward to partnering with Mitchell as we continue UToledo’s mission of learning, discovery and patient care, all in service to our city and region.”
Interim President Matt Schroeder expressed the University’s appreciation for Dr. Scott Molitor, who has served in the provost role on an interim basis since September 2023.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank Scott for all his efforts to advance UToledo during a period of great change in the higher education landscape,” Schroeder said.
McKinney is the author or co-author of 10 books and more than 100 journal articles and book chapters. He has been awarded approximately $1.2 million in support of his research and public engagement activities, with funding from the Knight Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts, the Ford Foundation and the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.
McKinney has served as an advisor to the U.S. Commission on Presidential Debates and on national election commissions in several countries, including South Korea, Germany, Great Britain, New Zealand and Ghana, assisting these nations in developing and implementing their own televised presidential and party leader debates.
In addition to his scholarly work, McKinney has practical political experience, having served as a staff member in the U.S. Senate and at the White House. He also served as associate director of the National Communication Association in Washington, D.C., and as president of the Central States Communication Association. He remains a frequent commentator for national and international news media, providing expert political commentary.
McKinney completed his Ph.D. in communication studies from the University of Kansas. He has a master’s degree in communication studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and bachelor’s degrees in speech communication and government from Western Kentucky University.
Learn more about Dr. Mitchell McKinney
Search Process
The University of Toledo partnered with WittKieffer to conduct a search for Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Finalists for the position were invited to visit campus in April 2025 to meet with faculty, staff and students. Open forums provided an opportunity to hear a presentation from the candidate and engage in discussion. The forums were held in person in Room 1200A of the Savage & Associates Business Complex and included a virtual attendance option. Participants were asked to complete a survey for the candidate following the forum.
UToledo Provost Leadership Profile
Search Committee
Bryan Blair (co-chair)
Vice President Intercollegiate Athletics and Director of Athletics
Jerry Van Hoy (co-chair)
Faculty Senate President
Associate Professor of Sociology; Co-Director, Program in Law & Social Thought; Director,
Master of Liberal Studies Program
Terence Romer
Chief of Strategy and Business Insights
Kimberly Nigem
Professor, John B. and Lillian Neff College of Business and Innovation
Joan Duggan
Professor, College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Rafael Garcia-Mata
Professor, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Dan Boden
Associate Professor, College of Arts and Letters
Ashley Westgate
Student Body Vice President
Addison Kittle
Graduate Student Association President