Touro hires new provost, COO

Touro hires new provost, COO
By Sarah Rohrs
Posted: 09/27/2009 12:01:33 AM PDT

A California State University dean with extensive health care experience has been named Touro University's new provost and chief operating officer.

Marilyn Hopkins, dean of the College of Health and Human Services at CSU, Sacramento, was chosen after an extensive national search. She begins her new job on the Mare Island campus in a part-time role Oct. 5, and will assume full-time duties in December.

Hopkins' hiring represents a "new beginning" for the private university, particularly in the health care and education fields, Touro's Director of External Relations Jesus Mena said.

The school's prior provost was Harvey Kaye, who served from June 2006 to March 2008, and has since moved back to Touro College in New York, Mena said.

Touro senior provost and chief executive officer Michael Harter said Hopkins has "vast experience in health science education," and is well-versed in the nation's emerging health care reform policies.

For the last 18 months, Harter has overseen administration of both the California and the Nevada Touro campuses. He will head up Touro's western division while also managing daily operations of the Nevada campus.

Mena said Hopkins will not, at this time, focus on Touro's previous efforts to develop Mare Island's north end, particularly to build a cancer treatment and research center. Those plans were withdrawn in March due to lack of financing.

Hopkins said she is excited to lead the campus, looks forward to getting involved in the community, and to meet business, health care and education representatives.

Touro University's primary focus on preparing graduate and doctoral students for careers in health care and education is "very appealing," Hopkins said.

The school's interdisciplinary programs can help address the nation and state's health care and education needs at a critical time, she said. Further, the national dialogue around improving those areas gives Touro unique opportunities, she said.

Hopkins, 60, is a 35-year registered nurse and serving in her 10th year as dean. She earned her doctorate and a master's degree in nursing from the University of California, San Francisco.

She was a nursing faculty member at Cal State University, Sacramento for 23 years, and promoted to associate dean of the College of Health and Human Services in 1997.

Contact staff writer Sarah Rohrs at srohrs@thnewsnet.com or (707) 553-6832.