After a two-month search, the University of Toledo has appointed an associate professor in the college’s pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences program to be the dean of graduate studies programs.

Amanda Bryant-Friedrich is scheduled to begin her new role at UT on July 1. Her salary will be $150,000.

A North Carolina native, Ms. Bryant-Friedrich joined the pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences program in 2007.

She is an associate professor in the college’s Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry and was responsible for student recruitment in the college for the last five years.

She is also director of the Shimadzu Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Research Excellence.

She said the additional duties helped prepare her for the new position.

“Most of the focus was on graduate students and not the [undergraduate] pharmacy students,” she said.

Ms. Bryant-Friedrich has been encouraged by Andrew Hsu, incoming UT provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, to seek promotion to the rank of full professor, which she intends to do, UT spokesman Meghan Cunningham said.

Ms. Bryant-Friedrich is tenured as associate professor and will continue to be tenured as dean of graduate studies programs, Ms. Cunningham said.

Bringing more students to UT for graduate work in its 128 master’s degree programs and 40 doctoral programs and retaining graduate students are among her top priorities.

“Throughout my career, it has been working with graduate students that gives me the most joy,” Ms. Bryant-Friedrich said. “I love watching them progress in their studies, become professionals, and continue to carry the UT flag during the course of their careers.”

She said she plans to work with faculty, alumni, and the university’s marketing and communications office to get the word out about graduate programs. “We need to make sure our programs are up to date and have programs and studies students are interested in and provide and jobs and careers when they graduate,” the new dean said.

UT President Sharon Gaber said enhancing graduate education is part of UT’s strategic enrollment planning process.

“[Ms.] Bryant-Friedrich has the energy and enthusiasm to build the strength of our graduate programs and ensure students know of the endless possibilities available to them with a UT education,” Ms. Gaber said.

Ms. Bryant-Friedrich, who is replacing Patsy Komuniecki, was among three finalists from within the university ranks considered for the job.

Laurie Dinnebeil, distinguished university professor and chairman of the department of early childhood and special education in the Judith Herb College of Education, and Patrick Lawrence, professor and chairman of the department of geography and planning in the college of languages, literature, and social sciences, also applied.

Jon Strunk, UT spokesman, said the position was only offered to university faculty. The dean position is not considered a senior administration job at UT.

Ms. Bryant-Friedrich earned her bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Central University in Durham. She earned her master’s degree in chemistry from Duke University, also in Durham.

She earned her PhD from Ruprecht Karls Universitat in Heidelberg, Germany, and did post-doctoral work at Universitat Basel, in Basel, Switzerland. She was a professor in chemistry at Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Mich., prior to joining UT.

Ms. Bryant-Friedrich said efforts on graduate student recruitment will include getting minorities to enroll at UT.

“One thing I am very passionate about is diversity, not just ethnicity and race, but also in diversity in thought, ability, and international regions,” she said.

She said she plans to build upon the existing pipeline programs for students to earn credit hours for undergraduate and graduate degrees at the same time. Ms. Bryant-Friedrich said she wants to partner with organizations and private entities in funding partnerships to help subsidize the cost of graduate studies to make it more affordable.

Contact Mark Reiter at: markreiter@theblade.com or 419-724-6199.

First Published June 1, 2016, 4:00 a.m.