Mississippi University for Women has announced Scott Tollison as the provost and vice president of academic affairs.
Tollison has served as interim in this role since 2018. He will start in his permanent position July 1 pending the Institute of Higher Learning’s approval.
“I am thrilled beyond words,” Tollison said. “I’ve been here for 15 years and I have seen the difference MUW can make in the lives of our students and I’m just excited to continue to make a contribution to this community and its staff.”
Before his role as interim provost, Tollison served as dean of the College of Business and Professional Studies from 2012-18 and also served as business chair for three years. The West Point native received his undergraduate and master’s degree in business information systems from Mississippi State University where he also received his doctoral in 2009.
Tollison added while serving as interim provost he has immersed himself throughout all colleges and departments on campus.
“I think over the past year I’ve had the opportunity to learn about a number of programs on our campus. (I’ve also) work with individuals I haven’t worked with in the past,” he said. “Now in my role as interim provost, I’ve had the opportunity to work with all of the programs on campus and I’ve just seen the quality of the programs and level of care and concern the faculty has with our students.”
MUW President Nora Miller said the Provost Search Committee conducted a national search for the position, narrowing the pool to three candidates. After the committee submitted a summary of the candidates, Miller said Tollison remained at the top of the list.
“I met with each of the candidates,” Miller said. “I asked (the committee) to give me the pros and cons of each candidate, not to rank them. We had some good candidates, but it was really clear that Dr. Tollison knows who we are, who our competitors are, who our peers are. He’s built strong relationships with the community colleges. Looking at the those results the search committee provided to me reinstated to my feelings that he was the best person for the job.”
After watching Tollison in his interim role, Miller said he exceeded expectations.
“He’s done a great job,” Miller said. “He’s got a true vision and has managed to weave his way through some things and has built up great relationships throughout the colleges and among campus. I look forward to what he will be able to do for us to lead us in the future. It’s really important that we have a strong provost who has the faith and confidence of the campus and Scott definitely does. I was glad when he was named interim provost. I know he really enjoyed being a dean. I think he’s found that he enjoys it and he can have a greater impact on the university as a whole. I’m thrilled he wanted it.”
Tollison will largely be responsible for the development and management of academic division and the academic support services. He said he found out Thursday morning he would remain at his post permanently.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity and I just want to do everything I can to serve the faculty, staff and students and provide to them whatever they need to be successful,” he said.
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