Dr. Mary Ellen Mazey became President of Bowling Green State University on July 1, 2011. Dr. Mazey's extensive experience in Ohio public universities and with implementing strategic plans, coupled with her understanding of the role higher education has to play in the state's well-being, led the BGSU trustees to select her as the 11th president of the University. Before becoming president of BGSU, she served from 2009-2011 as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Auburn University. In that capacity, she was responsible for the academic programming for 12 colleges and was responsible for fostering the advancement of the university's strategic plan. From 2005-2009, Dr. Mazey was Dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University, where she led a college-wide implementation of the WVU 2010 Strategic Plan and served on the Council to Implement the University's Strategic Plan. Prior to being appointed Dean at WVU, Dr. Mazey served for seven years as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Wright State University. She was founding director of the Center for Urban and Public Affairs at Wright State and served in that capacity for 11 years. During that time, she was the university's representative to the Ohio Board of Regents' Urban University Advisory Committee. In addition, she served as chair of the Department of Urban Affairs and Geography and led the creation of a Master of Public Administration Program. From 1993-1996, Dr. Mazey held the title of Distinguished Professor of Professional Service at WSU. President Mazey earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from West Virginia University. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati in urban geography.