Suzanne Ortega is the Vice Provost for Advanced Studies and Dean of the Graduate School at
the University of Missouri - Columbia (MU). She completed her masters and doctoral degrees
in sociology at Vanderbilt University and is the author or co-author of numerous journal
articles and an introductory sociology text, now in its 5th edition. An award-winning
teacher, Ortega has been the principal investigator or co-investigator on grants totaling
more than $6 million in state and federal funds. Among her most important accomplishments
are the work she has done to secure funding for and develop successful Ronald E. McNair
Postbaccalaurate Degree, Preparing Future Faculty, and Diversity Enhancement programs.
In addition to work focused on creating a more inclusive pipeline into graduate school
and the professoriate, Dr. Ortega chairs an MU task force that will make recommendations
on enhancing the professional development of post-doctoral fellows. She serves on the
American Sociological Association (ASA) Advisory Board for Preparing Future Faculty and
on the ASA Executive Office and Budget committee. Dr. Ortega also serves on Executive
Committees of the NASULGC Council on Research Policy and Graduate Education and the
Midwest Association of Graduate Schools.