This Week’s Town Hall Meeting

Dear Colleagues,

Thanks to all of you who attended the recent Town Hall meeting. If you were unable to attend, note that a copy of my PowerPoint presentation, as well as a recording of the meeting, is available via this link.

I was pleased to be able to share with you the good news regarding the positive trend in our enrollment for both the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters. Your recruitment efforts are making a difference.

Again, I want to thank the Ad Hoc Committee on Budget Sustainability for their time and effort. They have made good progress, and I look forward to additional recommendations from this group. I encourage you to submit your questions, comments, and/or ideas to this committee via this link. We are making progress, but there’s a lot more work to be done. We need everyone’s input and ideas to help us reach our goal.

As I shared in the Town Hall meeting, we have a lot of personnel changes taking place across campus. I have provided below the list of searches that will be underway soon, as well as recent personnel changes in administrative roles:

• Executive Level Searches:
  • Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
  • Vice President for Enrollment Management
  • Vice President for Finance and Administration
  • Vice President for University Advancement
  • Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Dean, College of Business and Aviation

Updates on the searches will be provided to the campus as progress is made, and your input will be sought.

• Changes in Administrative roles:
  • Interim Vice President for Admissions……… Ms. Ashley Tanksley
  • Interim Director of Admissions………………… Ms. Sydney Pittman
  • Interim Dean, COEHS…………………………….. Dr. Merideth Van Namen
  • Interim Library Director………………………….. Ms. Fawn Ussery
  • Interim Registrar…………………………………….. Ms. Joi Phillips
  • Interim Chair of TELR……………………………. Dr. Corlis Snow
  • Univ. Archivist & Instr. Svcs Librarian…….. Mr. C.T. Salazar
  • Director of Health and Counseling Svcs……. Ms. Paula King
  • Director of Facility Operations…………………. Mr. Cecil Barnett
  • Director Enterprise Operations (OIT)………… Ms. Gina Goetzinger
  • Head Tennis Coach…………………………………. Mr. Will Irvin

The next Town Hall meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 27 at 3:00 p.m. in Jacob Conference Center in Ewing Hall.

I know times are tough for the campus right now and that there is a lot of anxiety regarding our future. However, Delta State has endured many hardships in our 98-year history, and I firmly believe that, with your help, this place has a bright and promising future. As I have said before, this place fills me with gratitude and hope, and I am privileged to be here with you.

Best regards,

Dan Ennis