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Office of the Provost

Suzanne E. Thomas, Ph.D.

Interim Executive Vice President, Academic Affairs & Provost

Suzanne Thomas, Ph.D., is the interim executive vice president for Academic Affairs and provost of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Serving as MUSC's chief academic officer, Dr. Thomas oversees MUSC's academic enterprise through the Office of the Provost, providing collaborative leadership and a forward-thinking approach while guiding six colleges (Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy) and numerous centers and offices that drive education, research, and innovation. Dr. Thomas works closely with leadership, faculty, staff, and students to foster an environment of interdisciplinary teamwork and support to set academic priorities and pursue strategic initiatives that move forward MUSC's education and research missions. In the president's absence, the provost acts as the Chief Executive Officer for MUSC.

Dr. Thomas received her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and her doctorate in Experimental Psychology/Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of South Carolina. She is a graduate of the Harvard Leadership Development Institute.

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Suzanne E. Thomas, Ph.D. is the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

As the university's chief academic officer, Dr. Thomas reports to the President and is responsible for the leadership and oversight of all academic colleges, as well as strategic planning and academic budgeting. She works in close collaboration with executive leaders across the enterprise to advance and advocate for initiatives and policies that support MUSC's educational and research missions. In the absence of the President, she assumes the responsibilities of Chief Executive Officer.

Through her leadership, the Provost fosters a campus environment that values innovation, scholarly collaboration, and institutional transformation. Her commitment ensures a positive and lasting impact on students, faculty, researchers, and the communities MUSC serves.

Advisory councils and committees help shape MUSC's academic strategy and ensure alignment with institutional goals. Each of them promotes educational excellence, fosters innovation, and enhances shared governance throughout the academic enterprise.

Office of the Provost Organizational Chart

Reporting Units

Learn more about University Offices that report to the Office of the Provost.

The Center for Advancement, Recruitment, and Retention of the Workforce (ARROW) is dedicated to strengthening career pathways in academic medicine, healthcare, and biomedical sciences.

The Division of Education Innovation and Student Life unites six healthcare colleges within one university. The mission is to provide the training and education support that our future healthcare leaders, researchers, and providers will need to serve in an ever-changing healthcare system.

Under the auspices of the Provost, the Associate Provost for Finance and Administration provides decision-support and strategic business analytics to the six colleges of the University, as well as auxiliary units under the purview of the Provost.

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Center for Global Health, reporting to the Office of the Provost, is a university-wide initiative to bring global efforts under one umbrella to advance the global vision of MUSC and to serve as a catalyst for the innovative work of our faculty and students.

Under the leadership of Interim Director, Dr. Heather Boger, the Center on Aging is committed promoting health, longevity, and improving the quality of life for South Carolina's seniors.

The Associate Provost for Educational Planning & Effectiveness leads work in continuous quality improvement and the university's ability to demonstrate accountability for outcomes in its education mission. She also represents the Provost in education partnerships with other colleges and universities. Two offices report to the associate provost: Office of Enrollment Management and Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The only National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center in South Carolina, Hollings is at the forefront of cancer research. This research is the driving force behind delivering medical advances to patients and their families, enabling us to educate health care professionals and the public, and to establish outreach services for underserved populations.

The health (or medical) humanities is an interdisciplinary field of study in which the arts, humanities, and social sciences are applied to issues of health and health care.

The MUSC Library supports the creation of new knowledge, the education of health professionals, lifelong learning, and timely access to information, informed health care decisions, as well as preserving the historical record of the Campus and health professions in South Carolina.

The MUSC Faculty Ombuds Office provides a free faculty service that is an impartial, independent, confidential, and informal option for resolution of puzzling or troublesome issues faced by faculty. An ombudsperson is a neutral person who can assist in resolving concerns and disputes in an informal, confidential, impartial manner.

The Medical University of South Carolina is dedicated to engaging community members in all aspects of the research process. Research and discovery programs at MUSC promote health, reduce the risk of illness and disease, and build community resilience.