Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan, Names Britt Rios-Ellis as Its Next Provost

Britt Rios-Ellis was selected as the next executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan. She will begin her appointment on January 4, 2021.

Oakland University is a state-operated educational institution with undergraduate enrollments of about 15,500 students and nearly 3,500 graduate students, according to the latest data supplied to the U.S. Department of Education. Women make up 57 percent of the undergraduate student body.

In accepting the appointment, Dr. Rios-Ellis stated that she was drawn to Oakland for its “cutting-edge combination of programs, research, community-based efforts, and focus on student success. I felt a strong sense of connection with the OU community and the mission-driven way in which leadership, faculty, and staff seek to transform students’ lives through quality education. OU’s focus on diversity and inclusive excellence is also a great match and well-aligned with my personal philosophy, life’s work, and career focus.”

Dr. Rios-Ellis has been serving as the founding dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Services at California State University, Monterey Bay. From 2005-2015, she served as founding director of the California State University, Long Beach Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation and Leadership Training.

Dr. Rios-Ellis holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and Spanish, a master’s degree in health and fitness management, and a Ph.D. in community health, all from the Univerity of Oregon.