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The provost is the chief academic officer and the senior university officer next to the president. The provost is the president's principal adviser in all matters pertaining to the development of a well-conceived and organized curriculum, administered and taught by a faculty of the highest qualifications. The provost oversees planning for the university's educational programs and works with the vice presidents and deans in accomplishing the university's educational objectives. The provost oversees budget development by the colleges and monitors these budgets throughout the academic year.
Reporting to the provost are the five degree-granting colleges -- Arts and Letters, Business and Economic Development, Science and Technology, Education and Psychology, Health, and the non-degree-granting Honor's College. Also reporting to the provost are the university Libraries and the Institute for Disability Studies,The provost monitors the planning, development, and revision of academic programs and supervises all processes involving the academic staff of the university.
Biography
University of Southern Mississippi President Martha D. Saunders announced that veteran biology professor Dr. Bobby L. Middlebrooks has been named interim provost effective Aug. 1.
“Before making this appointment, I solicited advice from my executive staff, the deans and faculty representatives,” Saunders said. “Dr. Middlebrooks’ name appeared often as someone who can do this job. His experience at Southern Miss will enable him to get up to speed quickly. I look forward to working with him.”
Dr. Middlebrooks, a 33-year veteran of the Southern Miss faculty, has served in a number of administrative roles in addition to his teaching and research activities. He previously served as associate provost from 1998-2000; assistant vice president for academic affairs from 1997-98; chair of biological sciences from 1991-97; and interim dean of the Graduate School from 1990-91.
President Saunders noted the extensive experience of Dr. Middlebrooks in working with both faculty and administration. “It is important to have a seasoned, well-respected academic administrator in this role, and Dr. Middlebrooks has well-served this university for over 30 years,” she noted.
Dr. Middlebrooks has been on numerous university and departmental committees including the Graduate Council for which he was chair in 2006-07, the Academic Council, the Council of Chairs and the Faculty Senate. He also served on the planning committee for the merger of the Departments of Biology and Microbiology into the current Department of Biological Sciences in the early 1980s and coordinated the academic transition of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs into the Southern Miss system in the 1980s.
“I am very honored to be asked to serve as the university’s interim provost as the university begins the search for a new provost,” Middlebrooks said. “Among my highest priorities will be promotion of a spirit of mutual trust, respect and openness within the entire academic community and the encouragement of frank discussions of the academic issues and challenges facing the university.”
A seasoned scholar, Middlebrooks’ major areas of research include comparative immunology of marine mammals and immune system contributions to viral pathogenesis. He has served as principal, co-principal or associate investigator in more than 40 grant-funded research projects and has more than 60 research publications and presentations to his credit.
He has received honors for his work in and out of the classroom with numerous honors and awards including: Commencement Grand Marshal in 2006, Southern Miss Educational Administrator of the Year award in 2002, and Faculty Research Award in 1988. Middlebrooks also has directed nine doctoral and 21 master’s students through successful completion of their graduate programs while at Southern Miss.
A native of Greenville, Texas, Middlebrooks holds master’s and doctoral degrees in microbiology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and a bachelor’s degree from Rice University.
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