Provost Search Update
January 3, 2013Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
I'm pleased to announce the appointment of a reconstituted 21-member committee searching for the University's next executive vice chancellor and provost. I will charge the committee at its first meeting later this month, and we expect this work to proceed productively in the coming weeks under the leadership of Kristen Swanson, dean of the School of Nursing and Alumni Distinguished Professor, as chair.
With the search for the University's next chancellor well under way, it was important to take action now to time the provost search so my successor will have an opportunity to provide input and be involved in the interview process and final selection. (We plan to use the same strategy with the search for the vice chancellor for development.)
The University faced a similar situation with vacant provost and vice chancellor for finance and administration positions in 2000 before James Moeser became chancellor. I consulted with Chancellor Moeser, and he confirmed my thinking that taking this approach would help accelerate the transition process within the administration and put my successor in the best position to hit the ground running when he or she is expected to take office next July.
I am grateful for Dr. Bruce Carney's continued service as executive vice chancellor and provost until this search is complete. He previously announced plans to return to his teaching and research career. Dr. Carney has done an exceptional job in serving as our chief academic officer. The provost oversees all academic operations including our schools and the College of Arts and Sciences, the University Library, a variety of centers and several cultural and educational units. This position also involves working closely with our vice chancellor for finance and administration to manage the University's budget process.
Dean Swanson is communicating with Wade Hargrove, chair of the chancellor search committee and our Board of Trustees, to assure a well-coordinated process with both searches. Joining Dean Swanson on the committee are distinguished faculty colleagues representing the College of Arts and Sciences, our professional schools and the Office of Faculty Governance. They are:
- Howard Aldrich, Kenan Professor and chair, Department of Sociology;
- Bill Andrews, E. Maynard Adams Professor of English, Department of English and Comparative Literature;
- Tim Carey, professor of medicine and social medicine, School of Medicine, and director of the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research;
- Jennifer Conrad, senior associate dean for academic affairs and Dalton McMichael Distinguished Professor of Finance, Kenan-Flagler Business School;
- Jo Anne Earp, professor and former chair, Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health;
- Joe Ferrell, Secretary of the Faculty and Albert Coates Professor of Public Law and Government, School of Government;
- Thomas Hazen, Cary C. Boshamer Distinguished Professor of Law, School of Law;
- William Kier, professor and chair, Department of Biology;
- Barbara Moran, Louis Round Wilson Distinguished Professor and former dean, School of Information and Library Science
- Mike Smith, dean and professor of public law and government, School of Government
- Dulcie Straughan, James and Hallie Parker Distinguished Professor and former interim dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
- and Kim Strom-Gottfried, Smith Theimann Distinguished Professor for Ethics and Professional Practice and former interim dean, School of Social Work.
- Alston Gardner, a member of our Board of Trustees and a lecturer of strategy and entrepreneurship, Kenan-Flagler Business School
- Taffye Clayton, vice provost for diversity and multicultural affairs
- Stephen Farmer, vice provost for enrollment and undergraduate admissions
- Karol Kain Gray, vice chancellor for finance and administration
- Bettina Shuford, associate vice chancellor for student affairs
- Tammy Cox, treasurer of the Employee Forum
- Rachel Myrick, student body vice president
- and Kiran Bhardwaj, vice president of external affairs for the Graduate and Professional Student Federation.
Sincerely,
Holden Thorp