Missouri State University's first full-time provost, Belinda McCarthy, Ph.D., has resigned from her post, effective Aug. 1. She will transition to a faculty position in the MSU College of Education's master of students affairs in higher education program.
McCarthy has served as MSU provost for five years and has worked for more than 25 years in higher education administration, according to a June 21 university news release.
McCarthy, who was paid a salary of $213,611 as provost, will earn a salary of $174,778 in her new role.
In her new position, McCarthy will be:
- researching curriculum and pedagogy for the program;
- developing and teaching online courses, including a three-year online course for working professional; and
- working with university personnel and resources to market the online student affairs program.
“I feel very fortunate that so many things came together at the right time,” McCarthy said in the release.
McCarthy's decision comes after an internal audit that became public showed that MSU paid $4,700 in lodging and meals for McCarthy, John Catau, associate provost, and Earle Doman, vice president for student affairs, for a 2007 12-day trip to China. McCarthy also has been in the faculty hot seat in recent months for the reassignment of
Frank Einhellig, longtime dean of the graduate college, according to
Springfield News-Leader reporting.
MSU President James Cofer said McCarthy's decision came as no surprise.
"I have known for some time Belinda’s desire to return to the classroom when the right opportunity arose, and working with the student affairs in higher education program provides an excellent opportunity for her to use her experiences over the last three decades in the classroom," Cofer said in the release.
Cofer plans to appoint an interim provost within 45 days so that person can begin by Aug. 1, after consulting with faculty leadership. A national search for a permanent successor is expected to begin early this fall, according to the release.[[In-content Ad]]
