Story by Mary Bradley, Editor-in-Chief
As Provost Jay Morgan steps down from his role to become vice president of Academic Affairs for the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, or CPE, Tim Todd, dean of the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business, will fill the open spot as interim Provost.
Starting in the fall semester, there will be a national search conducted for the position. A search committee will be formed and a national search consultant to assist in this process will be selected. Associate Dean of the College of Business Gerry Muuka will be interim dean during 2015-16.
Todd said Morgan has a tremendous opportunity presented to him at the CPE and he has been wonderful at the University. He said he is excited to fill the role as interim Provost and his humbled to do so as Morgan transitions out of the Provost’s Office.
“In this interim time frame, President Davies has asked me to serve as the interim Provost,” he said. “I am honored and humbled by this, and with my love for Murray State over the past 20 years, I have accepted. This next year will be exciting as we will be in the first year of implementation of the MSU Strategic Plan. In addition to that, we will continue serving our students through teaching, research and service. In other words, we won’t ‘miss a beat’ in this coming academic year.”
In an email sent to the University community, President Bob Davies said he selected Todd because he wanted someone who will be a strong leader and advocate.
“In all of my interactions with Dr. Todd, as well as the numerous comments I have received regarding him, I have found him to be a stalwart advocate for Murray State, our faculty, staff and students, as well as the community,” Davies wrote. “He has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to build consensus, to make difficult decisions when necessary in a fair and transparent manner, to engage others in a way to shape forward thinking objectives and to lead others in the pursuit of a shared vision of academic excellence and student success. I also know, as he has over this past year, provided me excellent advice, insights and wisdom that has shaped, or reshaped, my thinking on numerous issues. Moreover, through his leadership in guiding the strategic planning process, I know that he will have the sense of urgency needed to pursue the agenda for our University.”
Todd has been at Murray State since joining the organizational communication department in 1995, and has served as Assistant Provost in 1998 and Associate Provost in 2002 before becoming dean in 2006.
He will assume the position beginning July 1.
