Tracy Frederick, professor of communication at Southwestern College, will become interim provost of the college July 1 when Andy Sheppard leaves that post to become a college president in Georgia.  She will serve in this top academic position during a national search for a permanent provost. 

“Dr. Frederick is a capable and experienced faculty member who will be able to help us through a scheduled accreditation as well as giving us time to do a full national search,” says President Brad Andrews. 

Frederick has been on the faculty since 1998 and has served in all offices (including chair) of the Faculty Senate. She was a member of the General Education Task Force which restructured the general education program, and has served on every faculty committee. In addition, Frederick is a respected academician who has published consistently and presented at numerous conferences. 

The search for a permanent provost will follow the model set in a recent successful search for a new athletic director, President Andrews adds. A search committee (made up primarily of faculty) will invite applications on a national scale, then identify three or four finalists. The finalists will be made available to meet the community on campus and Andrews will choose the person he describes as his right-hand partner in leading the college.

The president expects the comfortable time frame will attract top candidates while giving the college experienced leadership as it completes an accreditation visit by the Higher Learning Commission in 2017. 

“I am confident we will have strong interest in this position, and I am comforted to know that we have a very strong academic affairs leadership team of deans and division chairs to work with Dr. Frederick and ultimately with the new provost,” he adds.