The provost’s office still has two vacancies to fill after three of the university’s top academics administrators left.
Admissions Director Gordon Stanley, Assistant Provost Barbara Steidle and Don Straney, assistant to the provost, all left MSU this summer.
Pamela Horne, formerly University of Michigan’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions assistant director, was appointed in early August to take Stanley’s role. She began her MSU duties Aug. 15.
“I’m really fascinated by the transition students and parents go through,” Horne said of her new duties at MSU. “It’s a rather large responsibility. I know I’ll be challenged, but I like that, I like a challenge.”
Provost Lou Anna Simon said she hopes the remaining positions will be filled soon. She said three administrators’ departures shouldn’t create any of problems.
“We’ve been blessed with extraordinary stability,” Simon said in July.
“Each in their own way has made great contributions.
“Obviously there will be new people in these roles so, it will be different.”
Stanley, who also was assistant to the provost for Enrollment Management, will become director of counseling at Marist School, a private secondary institution in Atlanta.
Stanley left MSU on July 11 and began his new position Aug. 11.
“This brings together different aspects of my background,” Stanley said. “And it gives me a chance to counsel students over an important period in their lives.”
Stanley received his master’s in guidance and counseling and his doctorate in counseling psychology at Duke University.
MSU President M. Peter McPherson said Stanley’s interest in directly working with students will be beneficial to his new career path.
“He’s careful, and he‘s very interested in students, as reflected by the career path he‘s taken,” he said.
Steidle, assistant provost for undergraduate education, is retiring, but will remain an MSU consultant.
Steidle’s duties are set to be split among two people. Registrar Linda Stanford has been named to take over Steidle’s assessment and academic services commitments. The other person has not yet been determined.
While working at MSU, Steidle said she hasn’t had time to do many things she wishes she could.
“I have lots of personal interest things that I’m going to be able to do now,” she said.
Donald Straney, a former zoology professor and assistant to the provost for faculty development, also announced his departure earlier in the summer.
Straney ended his 23 years of MSU service by making a career move to California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, Calif., where he will be the dean of the College of Science.
