September 8, 2023<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”30″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”presidents-office”][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3\/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]My Dear Colleagues:<\/p>\n I have a few items of interest on the eve of what I hope will be for you a restorative weekend.<\/p>\n First, I am pleased to report that Dean Leslie Griffin has accepted the position of Interim Provost of Delta State University. Interim Provost Griffin\u2019s appointment is effective today, September 8, 2023, and is scheduled to end on June 30, 2024, giving us sufficient time for a national search for our next provost. I am thankful for the work of the search committee, which moved quickly at my request to identify nominees, vet candidates, and deliver to me a thoughtful and thorough recommendation. If you see them, please thank:<\/p>\n \u2022 Dr. Christopher Jurgenson, Faculty Senate President, Committee Chair And, if you see Dr. Griffin, please offer words of encouragement. I have held many positions in academic affairs \u2014 from chair to director to dean to vice president to provost \u2014 and provost was the most challenging. It is almost impossible to balance the needs of the students, the expectations of the faculty, and the imperatives of the administration, especially when the provost must work under a new (and impatient!) president who is also learning on the job. Anyone who takes that role, or has taken that role, on this or any college campus ought to be appreciated.<\/p>\n Academic Affairs will benefit from Dr. Griffin\u2019s time and talents. She is one of the many I have met on this campus who is willing to sacrifice her own comfort and desires in order to improve learning conditions for our students.<\/p>\n Second, on the matter of folks who are willing to sacrifice for DSU, I want to note the efforts of those involved in our SACSCOC reaffirmation process. Today, our Reaffirmation Report will be in the hands of our accrediting body, and meeting this deadline was only possible because so many people worked so hard and so quickly. I\u2019m particularly appreciative of the professionals in the Office of Institutional Research, Effectiveness, and Planning, the writing team who composed the report, and the leadership of Associate Provost Josie Welsh. I am proud of the work they\u2019ve done, and this is a major step in our institutional progress. As the old proverb goes, \u201cthere\u2019s many a slip between the cup and the lip,\u201d so we\u2019ll remain diligent in the coming months as that report is reviewed by SACSCOC. But, this enormous effort was necessary, and I thank everyone who put in the hours.<\/p>\n Third, I want to tell you how much your work at Delta State is known, remembered, and appreciated by our alumni. I have been delighted to go on the road over the past few weeks, conducting a \u201cmeet the president\u201d tour among our graduates across Mississippi. Through the excellent planning of our Alumni Affairs staff, I\u2019ve visited alumni chapters in Southaven, Greenwood, and Jackson, and met with individuals and small groups of alumni here in Bolivar County, in Clarksdale, Greenville, Oxford, Itta Bena, Leland, and a number of other communities blessed with warm Statesman hearts. Later this month I will make my first swing to the lower part of the state, visiting with graduates in Hattiesburg, Biloxi, and points south. Heck, if I learn we have an alum on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, maybe I\u2019ll start paddling when I hit salt water.<\/p>\n I wish everyone reading this email could attend these events. Our graduates remember so much about their time here. They have described to me favorite classes, unforgettable activities, and vivid memories. I can\u2019t claim any credit for this \u2014 all this work was done before my arrival \u2014 but just know that our alumni reflect with fondness on this beautiful place (so thanks to those who keep it beautiful) and the extraordinary experiences they have had here. Every day, when we interact with current students, we have a chance to create a memory that they will cherish. I\u2019m fortunate to have that opportunity, and I hope you feel the same way.<\/p>\n Lastly, my staff informs me that as of today, I\u2019ve been your president for 100 days. I don\u2019t know what significance that number holds (except that 100 days didn\u2019t go so well for Napoleon Bonaparte!), but it has been a privilege to spend 100 days in this place doing this work. I\u2019m not much for predictions, but I imagine I\u2019ll learn to be a little better at my job in the next 100 days, and improve even more with another hundred, and so on, so that I will eventually deserve the confidence you have placed in me.<\/p>\n Regards,<\/p>\n Dan Ennis[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” bg_image=”1042″ bg_position=”custom” bg_position_x=”25″ bg_position_y=”75″ background_image_loading=”default” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”150″ bottom_padding=”50″ text_color=”light” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” color_overlay=”#008542″ overlay_strength=”0.8″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all”…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":518,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":99,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1718","page","type-page","status-publish"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/518"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1718"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1718\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1719,"href":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1718\/revisions\/1719"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\u2022 Dean Vicki Bingham
\n\u2022 Dean James Gerald
\n\u2022 Dean Ellen Green
\n\u2022 Interim Dean Tomeka Harbin
\n\u2022 Interim Dean Joi Phillips<\/p>\n