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Office of the President Staff

Appointed by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), the President of The University of Southern Mississippi is charged with serving as both the institutional executive officer and principal educational officer. In general terms, the President is responsible to the Board of Trustees for every facet of institutional operations.

Specifically, the IHL Board delegates to its university presidents administrative control of the universities over which they preside. This includes responsibility for the administration of the divisions and departments of each institution and for keeping its expenditures strictly in harmony with the budget authorized by the IHL Board.

The President also must take the initiative in shaping the university's educational policy and academic standards in cooperation with the State Commissioner of Higher Education. The President has final authority over all employees. The President also is charged with the responsibility of maintaining appropriate standards of student conduct.

Joseph S. Paul, Ph.D.
President
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Bethanie DeFatta
Assistant to the President
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Christa McLeod
Chief of Staff and Strategic Advisor to the President
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Latouisha Wilson
Special Assistant to the President for Fiscal Operations
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Office of the President Staff

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