Executive Vice President and Provost JoAnne A. Epps announced today the appointment of Marylouise C. Esten, an admired and respected administrator with 25 years of leadership experience at Beasley School of Law, as deputy provost and chief of staff.  This appointment follows Deputy Provost Michael Sitler’s decision to return to the faculty.  

As deputy provost, Esten will assist in the oversight and coordination of activities in the Provost’s portfolio, ensuring continued delivery of the highest level of service and support.

In her previous law school roles as dean of students (2008–2016), assistant dean for admissions, financial aid and student affairs (1995–2007), and assistant dean for admissions and financial aid (1991–1995), Esten provided valuable direction and counsel to the Law School students, faculty, staff and alumni. In 2008, the Association of American Law Schools honored Esten with the organization’s Peter N. Kutulakis Award for her distinguished service to law students.

Known by colleagues and friends as Weegie, Esten worked closely with Provost Epps during her tenure as dean and associate dean of the Law School.

“Weegie has demonstrated exemplary leadership in her roles in the Law School, counseling students, advising faculty, mentoring staff, and supporting alumni,” said Provost Epps.  “As she did when she was a treasured member of the dean’s management team, she will bring the same compassion, accessibility, thoughtful guidance and excellent judgment to this new role in ways that will surely benefit the students and faculty of this great university.”

Esten earned an undergraduate degree in political science from Middlebury College where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was class valedictorian.  She spent several years at a private preparatory high school, teaching and working in admissions, before entering and graduating from Yale Law School. Following several years in legal practice, she joined Temple University in 1991. Esten succeeds Mike Sitler who was named deputy provost in spring 2013.

Sitler, a respected researcher in evidence-based practice in athletic training and sports medicine, is returning to his passions: teaching and scholarship.

Epps praised Sitler for his service as deputy provost of operations and noted, “Mike has been an extraordinary resource to this office and the university. He was the go-to person for many academic initiatives and provided central direction for enrollment and academic personnel matters, drawing on his years as former chair of the department of kinesiology and acting dean of the College of Public Health. Temple has benefited greatly from his many years of administrative leadership. We wish him well, and will miss him in this office.”