SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin Lane announced in a May 5 email to campus that Marc Morris and Bob Morgan will begin serving as co-interim provosts and vice chancellors of academic affairs at the university. 

Sheryl Tucker, the outgoing provost, is taking a leave of absence until her contract ends on June 30, according to the email. Tucker served in the role for three years and will remain a chemistry professor at SIU. 

According to the office’s website, the provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs reports directly to and collaborates with the chancellor to oversee various academic activities “from faculty development and academic budgeting to technology, assessment, program review, and international student affairs. 

Morris, a three-degree SIU alum, is the dean of the College of Business and Analytics. Morgan is the dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences. Xiaoqing Liu, dean of the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics, also applied for the position. 

A search committee for an interim provost was established on March 18, but after four members were added on April 8, the committee decided to resign “en masse.” David Shirley, Lane’s chief of staff, told the DE that members from four constituency groups were added to align with the university’s commitment to expanding diversity and representation on all searches. While members of the search committee said they value inclusive participation, they said the timing of the change compromised the search’s transparency, credibility and integrity. 

In a letter to Lane, members of the Black Staff and Faculty Committee said the original committee lacked members from diverse ethnic and minority communities. The group said they understand the timeline concerns, but that the resignation has broader implications for campus.

According to Shirley, the search was paused and invitations for new committee members were sent. The search resumed on April 21, with nominees from the following groups: Graduate Council, Graduate Assistants United, Undergraduate Student Government, AP Staff Council, Civil Service Council, Black Staff and Faculty Council, Hispanic/Latino Staff and Faculty Council, LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Council and Asian Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Council. 

The committee held interviews throughout the last week of May. Groups that could not provide a nominee were invited to interview candidates during each candidates’ selected interview days. 

“I would like to sincerely thank the faculty, staff, and students who served on the search committee for the Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs position,” Lane wrote in the May 5 email. “The committee provided rich and thoughtful feedback to help me evaluate the candidates. Additionally, I would like to extend my gratitude to those not on the search committee who attended interview sessions last week and completed the feedback survey.”

After the interviews, the committee provided recommendations and feedback for Lane to evaluate. His review of the information is what led him to choose Morris and Morgan, he said in the email. 

Morris and Morgan will be allowed to apply for the permanent position. 

Read the DE’s previous reporting here: 

• SIUC provost told chancellor she was stepping down in November. Lane urged her not to tell anyone
• Interim provost search proceeds with new committee, 3 candidates

Editor-in-Chief Carly Gist can be reached at [email protected] 

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