Alison Barber is expected to be confirmed today as the new secretary of the MSU Board of Trustees, officials said.
The board will meet today to discuss, among other things, the appointment of Barber, the MSU senior associate dean in the Eli Broad College of Business. Her position would be effective Aug. 1 with an annual salary of $200,000.
As a secretary of the board and executive assistant to the president, Barber will be responsible for organizing information for meetings, assisting the president's daily activities and acting as a liaison between MSU students, faculty and administrators.
President Lou Anna K. Simon said she's looking forward to working with Barber.
"She's been attending a set of meetings to make sure she hits the ground running," Simon said. "She'll be exceptional at working with students, faculty and staff and opening lines of communication."
If approved, Barber would succeed associate journalism Professor Sue Carter, who decided to leave her position to pursue other personal and professional interests.
Carter said she's known Barber for nearly 10 years as an organized woman with an ability to relate to people in various states of life and has been helping her to transition to her new role.
"She brings in the capacity to operate across a wide plane of interests and activities, and that's quite valuable for someone assuming this role," Carter said. "She has a great sense of humor which is perhaps on the paramount aptitudes one should bring to this position."
A senior associate dean since 2001, Barber has served as the Eli Broad college's chief academic officer and has been responsible for administering the college's budget, and personnel administration.
Board Chairman David Porteous said he has noticed Barber has all of the qualities needed to handle the responsibilities of her new position.
Barber said her new job will be very complex but is looking forward to it because adapting to her new role is part of the fun.
"I'm used to bringing different people together on issues, so that will be very helpful," Barber said. "I'll be learning a lot in a big hurry, but it's the learning that makes it exciting."
