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WIU Provost Jack Thomas
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Thomas Named WIU Provost

December 5, 2007

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MACOMB, IL -- "Jack" Jackie Thomas, senior vice provost for academic affairs and professor of English at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, has been named provost and academic vice president at Western Illinois University, effective Jan. 1, 2008.

President Al Goldfarb said Thomas, who was highly recommended by the Provost Search Committee, will bring broad leadership experiences to Western. He replaces Joe Rallo, who left WIU in May to become president at Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX. Rallo had served as Western's provost since July 2003.

"Dr. Thomas' outstanding experiences in the areas of academic enrichment programs, diversity, student affairs, internationalization and distance learning; as well as his understanding of, and enthusiasm for, Western's strategic plan, mission and core values made him the top choice in a field of exceptional candidates," Goldfarb said.

"The search committee, chaired by Faculty Senate Chair Steve Rock, should be commended for bringing individuals with outstanding credentials to interact with the University communities," Goldfarb said. "On behalf of the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses, we look forward to working with Provost Thomas."

Thomas has served as senior vice provost at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), enrollment 23,000, since July 2006. Previously, he was vice provost for academic affairs for two years. He has also served as interim dean of the College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning at MTSU.

Prior to joining the MTSU faculty, Thomas was a professor of English (1990-2004) at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD, and director of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Scholars Program (2002-2004). Thomas also served as interim president from 2001-2002 at Maryland Eastern Shore, as well as executive vice president (2001), associate vice president for academic/student affairs (2000-2001), executive assistant to the president (1999-2001), chair of the department of English and modern languages (1996-1999), associate professor of English and coordinator of freshman English (1995-1996) and assistant professor of English and coordinator of freshman English (1990-1995). Thomas also was the assistant track coach at Maryland Eastern Shore for eight years. He has also taught English and coached at South Carolina State University (1989-1990), and Johnson C Smith University.

He was the Kellogg-NAFEO MIS Leadership Fellow from 2003-2004 in the Office of the President at Alabama State University and also studied in Salzburg, Austria in Fall 1999 as part of the Salzburg Seminar, "Globalization in Higher Education." He was an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow in Spring 1999, serving in the Office of the President at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and was an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow in Fall 1998, serving in the Office of the President at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Thomas is also a 2005 graduate of the Harvard Institute for Management and Leadership Education program.

At MTSU, Thomas has created institutional diversity, academic enrichment, scholars, graduate feeder and enrollment management programs, as well as an annual literature and English conference. He has published professional articles on leadership in higher education from a African-American perspective and African-American literature, and he has given presentations at national and international conferences on such topics as underrepresented first-year students, institutional diversity, mentoring, meeting the needs of first-year students and classroom standards.

Thomas has a Ph.D. in English literature and criticism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1990); his master's degree in English education from Virginia State University (1984); and his bachelor's degree in English from Alabama A & M University (1983).

His annual salary will be $185,000.


Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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