About the Provost
Ronald W. Marx, Ph.D.
Dr. Ronald Marx is the Interim Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at the University of Arizona. He was appointed to the position on July 1, 2023. As the University's chief academic officer, he oversees all academic programs, faculty affairs, student affairs, libraries, Arizona International, Arizona Online, and student support services.
Dr. Marx is a Professor of Educational Psychology and Dean of Education Emeritus at the University. During his tenure as dean, he held the Paul L. Lindsey and Kathy J. Alexander Chair. Previous appointments were at Simon Fraser University and the University of Michigan, where he served as the chair of the Educational Studies Program and the co-director of the Center for Highly Interactive Computing in Education (winner of a Computerworld-Smithsonian Laureate for innovation in educational technology) and the co-director of the Center for Learning Technologies in Urban Schools (winner of the Council of Great Cities’ Schools Urban Impact Award).
Dr. Marx has raised nearly $40 million for research and development projects over his career and has authored over 300 scientific papers and articles. His interdisciplinary research has focused on enhancing science education, with a particular focus on urban schools, and developing teacher professional development models. His research over the past decade has addressed early childhood education with a special focus on technical issues associated with the measurement of school readiness.
Dr. Marx is civically engaged as a founding board member of Tucson Values Teachers and a founding member of the leadership council of the Tucson Cradle to Career Initiative. Dr. Marx was on the Southern Arizona Advisory Committee of Act One from 2017-21. He recently served as a trustee of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, chairing the Community Investment team from 2018-20 and serving as vice-chair of the board from 2022-23.
Dr. Marx earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in school psychology from California State University, Northridge, and completed a doctorate in educational psychology and child development from Stanford University.