David Finley named as Lake Superior State University acting president

NEWS RELEASE

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY

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SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State University is tapping David Roland Finley as acting president as it gears up to replace its most recent president, Thomas Pleger, who passed away May 7 after a brief illness.

The University's governing board of trustees made the announcement during a special meeting held May 12. Finley has been serving for the past year as LSSU's interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, as well as dean of the schools of engineering and business.

Finley will manage general operations at LSSU as the board starts a process towards Pleger's replacement.

Lake State hired Finley in 2012 to take the helm what was then the College of Business, Engineering, and Economic Development. Prior to that, his was vice president of academic affairs at Trine University in Angola, Ind.

He holds a bachelor's degree in atmospheric and oceanic science, and a master's degree in atmospheric science, both from University of Michigan, as well as a master's degree and doctoral degree in chemical engineering, both from Wayne State University.

Finley started his career in Ann Arbor as an environmental consultant but soon found his heart was in academia.

Shortly after earning his Ph.D., he took a position as chair of the McKetta Dept. of Chemical Engineering at Trine University in Angola, Ind. and continued through the ranks there, in Angola, Ind.

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