Experience, deep ties to the community and pre-existing relationships at the university level are all assets that current Emporia State University Interim Provost Brent Thomas believes make him the ideal candidate for the position on a permanent basis.
Thomas says the university has built great “momentum” over the past several months, specifically with its reinvestment for the future initiative, and believes bringing in an outside candidate to fill the provost position could derail that momentum.
Aside from continuing the progress made in recent months, Thomas says a major focus for him, if chosen to serve as provost, will be the mending of relationships and the re-establishment of trust across campus.
Thomas came to ESU in 2006 as an associate professor and has served as chair of the biological sciences department before being named dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2014. He has served as co-interim provost since September.
Thomas is the third of four candidates to interview for the provost and vice president of academic affairs position following Sean Lane of Alabama-Huntsville and Greg Haddock of Northwest Missouri State who interviewed last Wednesday and Thursday. The fourth finalist will interview Thursday with more information to be announced in the coming days.
