Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State Provost and Executive Vice President David R. Shaw today [April 23] announced several organizational and role changes within Academic Affairs.
Shaw said over the last nine months he has received extensive feedback from direct reports and Robert H. Holland Faculty Senate leadership and now is restructuring the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President “to optimize talents with responsibilities and functions.” Specifically, he said he expects better alignment to improve the office and make it more service oriented. Shaw said he has worked to accomplish these changes while creating no new positions and saving money everywhere possible.
The new roles in the provost’s office and Academic Affairs include:
—Tracey Baham, associate director of the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, becomes interim director. Tim Chamblee, associate vice president and director of this office is retiring this summer.
—Jim Dunne becomes associate vice president for Academic Affairs after serving in that roles as interim. The longtime faculty member from the Department of Physics and Astronomy and Grisham Master Teacher is focusing on institutional effectiveness and policy coordination, interpretation and development.
—Brent Fountain also becomes associate vice president for Academic Affairs, focusing on faculty and student affairs. A longtime faculty member in the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion, Fountain previously has worked in the Office of the Provost and Vice President, and he most recently served as interim director of Career Services and associate vice president intern.
—Susan Heath, formerly with MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, takes on the position of director, Academic Fiscal Affairs.
—Dinah Jenkins is administrative assistant in the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President.
—Ardra Morgan is coordinating events, jointly serving the International Institute; Office of Research and Economic Development; and Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President.
—Jessica Northcutt is executive assistant to the provost and executive vice president, and she also serves as office manager.
—Peter Ryan, a longtime senior member of the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President also serving as interim dean of the Graduate School, now becomes executive vice provost. Shaw said the new title reflects Ryan’s “essential” role within his office. Ryan also is being named permanent dean of the Graduate School.
“As a result of these changes, I have distributed supervisory responsibilities among the newly named positions, in part to allow me the time to focus on the more strategic aspects of my position,” Shaw said.
For more information on the Office of the Provost and Vice President, visit www.provost.msstate.edu.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.