OCR Text |
Show 4 ADMINISTRATION HANNAH BAYBUTT STUDENT GOVERNMENT STAFF REPORTER dean From to provost SMYTHE EDDY EDITOR-IN-CHIE- Steve Morgan, acting president, connected with Peter and Catherine Meldrum at a recent scholarship gala. It is a combination of the nature of his job and his own personal style that allows Morgan to meet and work with faculty, students and alumni. On March 6, Steve Morgan, chief of advancement, announced his new role as acting president. He has already started the transition process with President Brian Levin-Stankevic- h. I went from 25 emails a day to about 100, Morgan said. Morgan said he will be in an acting role until the end of the academic year. On June 1, he will become president of Westminster. Morgan will be acting president for at least a year until a formal search is held. Morgan will be the first president who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Saints. One of the things I love about Westminster is we respect all faiths, Morgan said. Many early presidents were Presbyterian clergy, but Latter-Da- y Westminster has experienced Episcopalian, Jewish, Unitarian and presidents non-religio- us as well. Starting in 1981 as a business manager, Morgan progressed through various roles at Westminster. March 9 marked Morgans 34th year at Westminster. Morgan was involved in the financial department for 26 years, and for the last eight years, has served as vice president of institutional advancement. Morgan does not have a Ph.D., nor a doctorate. It is not typical, Morgan said. It is not that I dont value the Ph.D. and all that it takes to get there though. Morgan has a bachelors degree in accounting from the University of Utah, is a certified public accountant (CPA) and has been mentored at Westminster by six presidents over 34 years. I know the institution well, and I know what I dont know, Morgan said. Through serving six presidents, he has witnessed leadership close-u- p and the unfolding of the institution as it is today. He will use his skills to work on the overall management of the institution, according to Morgan. I bleed purple and gold, Morgan said. According to his reputation, Morgan is about people, not things or objects. It is in the nature of my as job, well as my own personal style, that I have gotten to work with a lot of faculty and staff and gotten to know students and alumni, Morgan said. Morgan is grateful to all those who work at or with Westminster. I cannot imagine being successful without engaging with the remarkable people at our institution, Morgan said. I am calling at them at this point in this transition period. President will continue to be a resource to him during this transition, according to Levin-Stankevi- ch Morgan. It is not often that you get this period of time to work with a president in transition, Morgan said. It is an added bonus. Morgan said he plans to continue developing President Morgan supports includes the presidential ambassadors. Megan Peters, senior marketing major, has been a presidential ambassador for three years. As a presidential ambassador, Peters is a representative of the student body and her responsibilities include attending events with donors, such as the Annual civic engagement initiatives in South Salt Lake. One of Morgans first responsibilities as acting Levin-Stankevic- hs president was to appoint a provost with recommendations from a search committee. Morgan announced Dr. lisa Gentile as provost on March 12. A provost is the chief academic officer for the institution and often is the number two person at the institution, according to Scholar Gala, as well as advancement staff meetings. Steve Morgan is an example of what makes Westminster great, Peters said. He represents how invested people are in this school. Peters met Morgan Morgan. Provost is a very important position for our institution and students because it guides all of our academic affairs and support programs that drive student success, Morgan said. Making sure we get a great provost was my highest priority. Lucille Sansing served as interim provost for the past year, presided over academic affairs and chaired the provost search committee. It has been a veiy fluid process for us, Morgan said. Holly Babbs is an administrative assistant for Westminsters Institutional Advancement office from where Morgan will be transitioning. The advancement office is in transition, but it is nice to know he is right across the hall, Babbs said. We can call on him and hell be right there. That is the kind of man he is, Babbs said, regarding Morgans genuine qualities. Another program that -- , through the presidential ambassador program. There is something about this school that grabs people, according to Peters. I am so excited to see what he does with the school, Peters said. If anyone knows Westminster, its Steve said Kailey Komhauser, ASWC president and senior history major. We have momentum toward an optimistic future. through the presidential ambassador program. There is something about this school that grabs people, according to Peters. F Lisa Gentile, dean of arts and sciences, was announced as the new provost on March 12. As the dean of arts and sciences, Gentile worked exclusively with faculty and students in that department. As provost, she will work with faculty and students across all four schools. I really want to be working with faculty across campus and students across campus and staff across campus to think about how we move forward, Gentile said. As provost, Gentile will be working alongside acting president, Steve Morgan, who formerly served as the chief advancement officer for the school. This will not be the first time the two have worked together. For the past two years, Gentile and Morgan have collaborated to raise money for projects within arts and sciences such as funding for the Garfield School. Gentile said she and Morgan have built a nice working relationship over the past two years. The president and provost have to work really closely together and so you want to make sure you have similar views and similar vision, Gentile said. Gentile said she would love to be in the provost position for a long period of time, but her position depends on the current president. When a new president comes in, that new president may decide they want to bring in a new provost and so you just have to be flexible about that in this position, Gentile said. According to Gentile, Morgan will serve as the president for the rest of this year and all of next year with potential to continue serving beyond that. A process will be put in place to select an interim dean of arts and sciences for a one or two-ye- ar period before a national search is held. Gentile said there are some fantastic candidates and arts and sciences will be in very good shape. - I am so excited to see what he does with the school, Peters said. If anyone knows Westminster, its Steve said Kailey Komhauser, ASWC president and senior history major. We have momentum toward an optimistic future. I , - - |