CLEVELAND, Miss.—As Delta State University begins to assess and develop strategies that will guide the institution into the future, the university is seeking to fill two integral positions to help lead the charge.
Delta State has commenced two parallel searches to identify, recruit and name successors for its Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) and Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) positions.
The Provost/VPAA seat will become vacant on June 30, following the retirement of Dr. Charles McAdams, who has served in this role since 2013.
“Dr. McAdams has been a strong and solid leader for the academy and our faculty, an outstanding member of the Cabinet and Executive Committee, and a terrific advisor to me,” said Delta State President William N. LaForge. “He will be sorely missed.”
The VPSA seat became vacant in January after Dr. Vernell Bennett-Fairs was tapped as president of Lemoyne-Owen College in Memphis. Bennett-Fairs had served as the VPSA at Delta State since 2016.
“Dr. Bennett-Fairs had a very successful and impactful tenure here, and we are thrilled about her selection to lead LeMoyne-Owen,” said LaForge. “Her departure was bitter-sweet because she left a terrific legacy of hard work, student-centric successes, and an abundance of creativity and energy that made her a very valuable member of our leadership team.”
LaForge has appointed search committees comprising a talented, diverse and representational array of the university community to conduct both searches and vet candidates for final consideration.
The VPAA/Provost Search Committee is chaired by Dr. Leslie Griffin, Dean of DSU’s College of Education and Human Sciences, and the VPSA Search Committee is chaired by Mike Kinnison, DSU’s Athletic Director.
Members of the VPAA/Provost Search Committee include: Dr. Chris Jurgenson, College of Arts and Sciences representative; Dr. Donna Ossorio, College of Arts and Sciences representative; Richard Tremmel, College of Arts and Sciences representative; April Mondy, College of Business and Aviation representative; Dr. Zinaida Taran, College of Business and Aviation representative; Dr. John Alverez, College of Education and Human Sciences representative; Dr. Natasha Barnes, College of Education and Human Sciences representative; Dr. Vicki Bingham, School of Nursing representative; Dr. Beverly Moon, Graduate and Continuing Studies representative; Emily Dabney, Academic Affairs staff representative; Dr. Christy Riddle, Academic Affairs staff representative; James Forte, diversity representative; Dr. Andrew Wegmann, Faculty Senate representative; Dr. Edwin Craft, Staff Council representative; Isabella Escobedo, Student Government Association (SGA) representative; and ex-officio member Lisa Giger, director of Human Resources.
Members of the VPSA Search Committee include: Dr. Jon Westfall, Faculty Senate representative; Chief Jeff Johns, Staff Council representative; Richard Word, SGA president; Hannah Malatesta, student representative; Haitham Touma, student representative; Rochelle Owsley, Student Affairs representative; Merritt Dain, Student Affairs representative; Dr. Ellen Green, faculty representative; Dana George, Athletics representative; Patrick Davis, alumni representative; Michelle Johansen, diversity representative; and ex-officio member Lisa Giger, director of Human Resources.
“I am very grateful to the chairs and members of these two important committees for investing their time and talent in these vital searches,” said LaForge. “It is our hope that both searches will result in appointments of new vice presidents effective July 1, 2021.”
For more information about the responsibilities, qualifications and application process for each position, visit www.deltastate.edu/human-resources.
