MSU fills associate provost, acting VP jobs

Ronald Fairbairn has been named MSU’s associate provost for public affairs and the extended campus. He previously served as dean of the College of Continuing Education and the extended university for 18 years and had announced that he would retire in January.

“I began to have second thoughts about wrapping up my Missouri State career in January, and when I discussed this with Dr. McCarthy, she was kind enough to offer me several possibilities for staying connected with the institution,” he said in a release. “I have several ideas for expanding the visibility of the university’s public affairs accomplishments and mission.”

In his new role, Fairbairn is responsible for developing and leading major public affairs initiatives and events and for general oversight of the annual Public Affairs Conference. He will work closely with faculty and administration in the academic colleges to advance the school’s public affairs mission on and off campus. He also is responsible for the management of some academic outreach units that offer credit and noncredit courses.

Fairbairn joined the MSU faculty in 1988 after several roles at Columbus State University in Georgia.

Also at MSU, Don Aripoli has been named acting vice president for university advancement, effective Jan. 1. Aripoli, vice president for student affairs, will fill the position that will be vacated by Greg Onstot when he retires at the end of the year.

Aripoli will continue in an acting role for nine to 18 months until a full-time replacement is hired. Dean of Students Earle Doman will take over Aripoli’s student affairs position during that time, and Associate Dean of Students Mike Jungers will take over for Doman.