Drake University has selected Joseph Valenzano III as its next provost. Valenzano currently serves as dean of the College of Communication at Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind. He will begin his new role July 1, following the planned retirement of Provost Sue Mattison, which was announced in March 2025. As provost, Valenzano will serve as Drake’s chief academic officer and oversee the university’s seven colleges and schools. “Dr. Valenzano is a visionary leader who understands firsthand the transformative power of a private, mission-driven liberal arts education,” Drake President Marty Martin said in a prepared statement. “His proven track record of collaborative leadership, commitment to student success, and ability to foster innovation in service to mission makes him the ideal person to guide our academic enterprise.” Valenzano brings two decades of higher education experience. At Butler University, he oversaw a significant increase in philanthropic giving to the College of Communication, including the largest individual gift in the college’s history. Before Butler, he spent more than a decade at the University of Dayton, serving in roles including department chair and Academic Senate president. He is a published scholar whose research explores the intersections of religion, politics and popular culture.