Missouri State University names inaugural provost

According to an MSU news release, McCarthy will have an initial four-year contract with a starting salary of $197,500, and she will be a tenured professor in the department of sociology, anthropology and criminology.

The provost model has been in development at MSU since the arrival of President Michael T. Nietzel in July 2005. As provost, McCarthy will serve as the chief academic officer of the university, responsible for the oversight of all academic programs and a number of academic support programs.

“I am delighted with the appointment as provost and excited about joining the Missouri State University leadership team,” McCarthy said in the release. “I look forward to the opportunity to work with faculty, staff, students and the citizens of Missouri to realize the potential of this outstanding university.”

McCarthy, who is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia, holds both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in criminal

justice from the State University of New York in Albany. For the last 16 years, she served as dean of the University of Central Florida’s College of Health and Public Affairs. In that capacity, she managed a budget of approximately $30 million and supervised a staff that included three associate deans, communications, major gifts, research and clerical personnel.

Her previous experience also includes serving as associate dean and interim dean of the School of Behavioral Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and director of the women’s studies at UA-Birmingham.

“We found an extremely well-qualified academic leader to be the first provost at Missouri State University,” Nietzel said in the release. “I have talked about raising sights and increasing expectations at Missouri State, and Dr. McCarthy will help us do exactly that. She brings great talent and experience to the position.”

McCarthy replaces Frank Einhellig, Ph.D., who has served as acting provost since July 1, 2005. He will return to his role as associate provost and dean of MSU’s Graduate College.