YSU’s interim provost brings a national reputation to the job

In the afterglow of the Youngs- town Business Incubator being hailed as the world’s best among university-associated business incubators, the appointment of Dr. Martin Abraham as interim provost and vice president of academic affairs at Youngstown State University can be viewed as the icing of the Mahoning Valley’s celebratory cake.

The YBI’s No. 1 ranking by University Business Incubator Indes, based in Stockholm, Sweden should put to rest any doubts about this region’s ability to compete in the high stakes, highly competitive technological battle being waged globally. And Abraham’s appointment to the top academic position at Youngstown State — he did ot apply for the job — is a clear indication that the institution will be a major participant in this battle.

Abraham is the founding dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and a key member of the YBI board of directors and an architect of America Makes, formerly the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute. He has established a national reputation for himself and the STEM College.

As far as YSU President James P. Tressel is concerned, the title “interim provost” is nothing more than a formality. Tressel strongly believes that Abraham is deserving of the position permanently.

The appointment must be approved by the university’s board of trustees, which meets Oct. 7. When the subject is broached, trustees will no doubt remember this comment from the president to Vindicator Education Writer Denise Dick:

“You could say I’m rooting for it to end up that way.”

It’s clear that Tressel, who is well aware that Abraham twice failed to make the list of finalists for YSU president, recognizes the need to have an individual with outstanding credentials lead the academic shop.

It is instructive that the interim provost’s critics do not challenge his credentials, but rather talk about what they perceive to be his arrogance and his impatience with those who do not share his passion for the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

But if he is judged solely on his record of accomplishments, the board of trustees could easily justify making Abraham permanent provost and vice president of academic affairs .

Here’s just one example of how the dean of the STEM College has used his national reputation and connections to the benefit of the university:

Internationally renowned Siemens Corp. has given the STEM College a $440 million in-kind grant for the state-of-the-art product lifecycle management (PLM) software and training.

In announcing the grant, Eric Spiegel, president and CEO of the giant company, said the next industrial revolution in the U.S. is going to be around additive manufacturing, and YSU and America Makes will help drive it.

Spiegel is a Valley native who graduated in 1976 from Poland Seminary High School.

Latest technology

At the announcement, Abraham noted that the software from Siemens will allow students to learn the latest technology.

“Companies will now be coming to YSU to recruit our students, looking for them,” he said. “Today YSU becomes a global leader in engineering education.”

In the near future, YSU will have to respond to the challenge being posed by the state to higher education by defining its mission and showing how it fits into the state’s higher education profile.

With additive manufacturing’s use of 3-D printing all the rage in this country and around the world, YSU can play a crucial role in making Ohio a leader in the manufacturing renaissance.

Who better than the provost to make that case?

Tressel’s unwavering support of Abraham should influence the trustees as they contemplate the future.