RICHLAND, Wash. – Michael Mays has been appointed interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at Washington State University Tri-Cities, effective Jan. 1.
“Academic affairs has never been more important to our campus than it is now, during this year of transformation,” said Chancellor H. Keith Moo-Young, who joined WSU Tri-Cities in June 2013.
“It is vital that our faculty continue to grow in their research opportunities, innovative teaching, nurturing of student success, and engagement with the community,” Moo-Young said. “Dr. Michael Mays already has taken the lead on these initiatives while serving as assistant vice chancellor for arts and sciences.”
Mays joined WSU Tri-Cities in August 2012 as the assistant vice chancellor for the newly merged College of Arts and Sciences. His expanded responsibilities include overseeing faculty and staff, academic program delivery, the budget and strategic planning for arts and sciences, professional programs (business, education, engineering and nursing), the library and academic-related student services.
Mays earned his Ph.D. in English from the University of Washington, with a research focus on modern and contemporary Irish and English literature. He previously served at the University of Southern Mississippi as a professor of English and as chair of the Department of English.
WSU Tri-Cities Chief of Staff Danny Talbot is leading the search committee for the vice chancellor for academic affairs. The position will post this winter on www.wsujobs.com, with the expectation that the successful candidate will begin on July 1.
Learn more about WSU Tri-Cities — the most diverse campus in the WSU system — at http://www.tricity.wsu.edu.
Contact:
Melissa O’Neil Perdue, Marketing & Communications Manager, WSU Tri-Cities, 509-372-7319, cell/text 509-727-3094, moneil@tricity.wsu.edu