Gunter Named Interim Provost and VPAA

VALDOSTA -- President Patrick J. Schloss announced today that Dr. Philip Gunter, dean of the Dewar College of Education, has been selected to serve as the interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs (VPAA) effective Jan. 1.

“Dr. Gunter has a distinguished record as a scholar and administrator,” said Schloss. “The advancement of the Dewar College of Education throughout his time as dean is clear evidence of the value and leadership that he will bring to all areas of academic affairs.”

The provost/VPAA serves as the university’s chief academic officer and is responsible for overseeing all academic operations including five colleges, the Graduate School, Division of Social Work and Library and Information Science, as well as various administrative units.

“I am excited and challenged by this opportunity to serve the students and my colleagues at the university in this interim position,” Gunter said.

Gunter, who came to Valdosta State in 1993, was impressed at the opportunities the community and university offered.

“One of my major goals has always been to highlight these opportunities to students and new faculty members,” Gunter said. "During this interim period, I intend to continue to lead with this positive belief in the university and the people who work and study here at Valdosta State. Fortunately, we have a very solid academic foundation thanks to the leadership of our current provost, Dr. Louis Levy. ”

Gunter, who led Valdosta State’s Department of Special Education and Communications Disorders for ten years, became the dean of the Dewar College of Education in 2003.

During his tenure as dean, Gunter guided the college in the development and implementation of a unit-wide, data-driven assessment system that was instrumental in receiving continued NCATE accreditation in 2006. In 2004, the college received the distinguished Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Education from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and two Best Practice awards from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

Schloss has appointed Dr. Jay Rickman, executive secretary of the Faculty Senate, to chair the search for a permanent provost and VPAA. Members of the search committee will be named within the next few days and a replacement is expected to begin by fall 2010.