Ande Durojaiye, Miami University vice president of Regionals and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Applied Science (CLAAS), has been appointed as the university’s inaugural vice president for strategy and partnerships. He will lead Miami’s Office of Strategic Transformation, which was recently established through the MiamiTHRIVE strategic plan. In this role, Durojaiye will oversee the implementation of the strategic plan and support high-level strategic initiatives and partnerships that position the university for continued success.

“Ande has a proven track record for cultivating valuable local, regional, and state partnerships,” Miami University President Gregory Crawford said. “He was instrumental in procuring funding for Miami’s new Advanced Manufacturing Hub and assisting with securing a new partnership with the Cleveland Clinic. Over the past few years, he has greatly expanded our Work+ and Early College Academy programs, vastly increasing our collaboration with healthcare providers and K-12 schools. Ande has been working closely on MiamiTHRIVE throughout every stage, and I am thrilled to see him take on this new role.”

Continuing to serve on the president’s executive cabinet, Durojaiye will foster partnerships and collaborate across Miami’s campuses to identify and advance shared priorities. These efforts will include identifying resource opportunities, responding to developing trends, and supporting initiatives as they move from strategic ideation to tactical deployment.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to drive the MiamiTHRIVE strategic plan forward while continuing to work with the amazing faculty, staff, and students across all of our campuses,” Durojaiye said. “By establishing clear metrics, fostering dynamic partnerships, and streamlining collaboration, we will create a strong foundation that positions Miami for success long into the future. I am looking forward to working across campus and with our external partners to ensure that every initiative advances our shared vision for excellence and innovation."

Brent Shock, special assistant to the president for strategic planning, has guided MiamiTHRIVE committee work and supported the development of ideas and initiatives over the past year. He will continue to assist the Office of Strategic Transformation to finalize the committees’ efforts before transitioning implementation responsibilities to Durojaiye later this semester.

“The higher education landscape continues to change rapidly, and Miami needs to be equipped to respond to the changing demographics, public perceptions, and workforce needs,” Shock said. “This office will allow Miami to respond quickly to developing trends, and this will, in turn, help Miami be well-positioned for future success. I am humbled by the work the THRIVE committees have completed so far, and I’m confident that Ande will successfully advance this initiative.”

Durojaiye and the Office of Strategic Transformation will establish key performance indicators and metrics to continuously assess the progress of all MiamiTHRIVE initiatives and provide support for the efforts as needed. 

“As vice president of Regionals, Durojaiye led establishing the first Early College Academy program in Southern Ohio, which serves almost 200 students from 10 different school districts, started the first community-based scholarship program to eliminate tuition costs for Pell-eligible students in Hamilton and Middletown, and increased Work+ employees three-fold while tripling the number of students in the program,” President Crawford said. 

In his new role, Durojaiye will build on his success working with the faculty to identify potential partnership opportunities with industry and businesses, as well as community organizations and nonprofits, so that Miami can best serve Ohio’s needs. 

Durojaiye joined Miami as dean of CLAAS in July 2021 after serving as interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Northern Kentucky University. In this position, he oversaw the university's seven colleges and more than 100 programs at the bachelor’s, master's, and doctoral levels. 

As Durojaiye transitions to this new position beginning March 1, he will continue to serve as vice president of Regionals and dean of CLAAS until a national search for his replacement is completed, anticipated by July 1, 2025.

"Working with the faculty and staff on the regional campuses has truly been one of the most fulfilling opportunities of my professional career,” Durojaiye said. “I am so thankful to have led a group of dedicated individuals committed to providing a high-quality education to all learners. The team on the regional campuses epitomizes the village mentality necessary to support all students. I also owe a debt of gratitude to the numerous community partners working with me to move our region forward.”