Dr. Scott Mertes, Provost
Dr. Mertes began his career at Mid Michigan College in 2005 when he started as the Registrar. Since then, he has held positions of Director of Admissions & Registration, Associate Dean of Student Services, Dean of Liberal Arts, Vice President of Community Outreach & Advancement, Vice President of Academic Affairs & Community Outreach, and now, Provost.
He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Winona State University (MN), his Master’s Degree from the University of Iowa, and his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska. Dr. Mertes has received the Phi Theta Kappa National Distinguished Administrator Award, an Institutional Excellence Award from the Liberal Arts Network for Development, the John Zaugra Outstanding Research Award from the Michigan College Personnel Association, the Dennis Dimoff Outstanding Advisor Award for the Michigan District of Circle K, and a Live United Award from the United Way of Gratiot & Isabella Counties. He has also received a Distinguished Alumni award from Waubonsee Community College and the “Warrior Way” Distinguished Alumni award from Winona State University. Additionally, he was nominated for the Illinois Community College Trustee Association Distinguished Alumni Award.
Dr. Mertes received an honorary induction into Phi Theta Kappa, the international community college honors association, Phi Chi Theta, the international business fraternity, and is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society. He is a past member of the Association for Student Conduct Administrators, the Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers, and a past-president of the Midwest Cooperative Education and Internship Association.
Dr. Mertes is active in his community, previously serving as President of Art Reach, and on additional Advisory Boards including the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation, Michigan Center for Student Success, the Alden B. Dow Museum, Epicenter, Isabella County 2020 Census, Clare Area Chamber of Commerce, the Midland District School Improvement Committee, and the Alumni Society Board of Directors for Winona State University.
In addition to his position at Mid Michigan College, Dr. Mertes held adjunct faculty appointments at Walden University and Central Michigan University, and is a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission. He is a frequent presenter at local, state, and national conferences and has published multiple journal articles on issues related to the retention of community college students, having been cited over 300 times in the higher education literature.