Sebastián Royo has been appointed acting provost of Suffolk University, succeeding Provost Marisa Kelly, who is serving as acting president of the University.
As vice provost for student success, Royo has built a division engaged in sustaining and increasing student achievement—from undergraduate advising and experiential learning to career development, international education, and assessment of student learning outcomes. He will continue to oversee the Division of Student Success and will add to his portfolio Institutional Research, the Center for Teacher and Scholarly Excellence, Research and Sponsored Programs and the Sawyer Library.
“We are extremely fortunate to have Sebastián step into the acting provost’s role,” said Kelly. “He has served the University with distinction as director of the Madrid campus, associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, and as a member of the Government Department faculty. He has been engaged in sustaining and increasing student achievement, and he will bring a strong academic voice to senior staff discussions.”
As a scholar of comparative political economy, Royo is a prolific writer in both English and Spanish, not only publishing seven books, several book chapters and many articles in academic journals, but also contributing to newspapers and blogs.
“Suffolk has given me opportunities that I never dreamt I would have,” Royo said. “I feel passionate about teaching, and I have the deepest appreciation for the Suffolk community's commitment and dedication to our students. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Acting President Kelly and with faculty, staff, and students to advance our mission and strategic priorities. I am also a firm believer in transparency and inclusiveness and welcome the opportunity to work with people across the institution to move this University forward.”
Royo holds a PhD in Political Science, an MBA, and an MA in International Relations from Boston University and a five-year law degree from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.