Dr. John Pauly, dean of Marquette's J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication, becomes provost of Marquette University, effective July 21, Marquette President Robert A. Wild, S.J., announced Tuesday.

Pauly was appointed dean and the William R. Burleigh and E.W. Scripps Professor in the Diederich College of Communication in 2006.

Previously, he was a professor of communication at St. Louis University and served as department chair from 1993 to 2002. Prior to his St. Louis tenure, Pauly was on the faculty at the University of Tulsa, UW-Milwaukee, Fordham University and East Carolina University.

He earned his Ph.D. in communications at the University of Illinois, where he also did his undergraduate and master's work. Pauly's research interests include the history and sociology of journalism, theory and practice of literary journalism, and media ethics and criticism.

"Dr. Pauly brings a strong academic and administrative background to the provost position," Father Wild said. "As Marquette's chief academic officer, he will drive our continued commitment to excellence -- in the recruitment of faculty with national reputations, in the development of programs and partnerships that enrich the learning of our students and enhance economic and social development in the Milwaukee region, and in helping to build endowments to support first-class teaching and research and financial aid for our students."

Pauly will succeed Dr. Madeline Wake, who left the position in December 2007 to return to faculty status. Dr. David Shrock, past dean of the College of Business Administration and the Graduate School of Management, has served as interim provost since December.

Pauly was one of three finalists for the provost position. Selected from a field of more than 50 prospects following a nationwide search, each finalist visited campus last month for two days of interviews with deans, faculty, student government, trustees, and numerous academic and administrative leadership teams. Each candidate also appeared at an open forum to discuss "A Leadership Agenda for the 21st Century Marquette University."

Dr. Patrick Carey, professor of theology and chair of the search committee, said, "Dr. Pauly demonstrated a great combination of leadership, vision and a clear articulation of, and appreciation for, our mission and identity."

Pauly called Marquette a "premier private university." While people seem to know generally that Marquette is nationally ranked with strong educational and athletic programs, he said "the university is not as visible in the higher education community or even in Milwaukee" as he would like. "I want people, particularly civic and educational leaders, to recognize the outstanding research being conducted at Marquette, to appreciate the quality of students we graduate with their commitment to the greater good and to understand the fiscal realities of higher education.

"Universities are financial entities, but they are not driven solely by financial considerations. The entire purpose of a university is to embrace the range of human experience and understanding, both contemporary and historical," he said. "No other institution in the society accepts that role (save libraries, in a limited way), let alone pursues it with such vigor despite all its economic challenges. Our goal should be to offer the fullest and best education we can in a way that is economically plausible and sustainable."