President John C. Hitt sent the following note to the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý campus community this evening:
Please join me in congratulating Provost and Executive Vice President Tony Waldrop on his selection as president of the University of South Alabama.
Provost Waldrop is an outstanding leader and has served with distinction since joining ÐÔÊӽ紫ý in 2010. He has helped us make remarkable strides in many areas, including student success, externally funded research, economic development, and community service.
Provost Waldrop’s work contributed to national recognition for ÐÔÊӽ紫ý in many ways, including our being named multiple times as an “up-and-coming” national university by U.S. News and World Report, receiving accolades from The Princeton Review and Kiplinger’s for providing exceptional value to our students, and being ranked as “military friendly” by G.I. Jobs magazine.
Under his leadership, our student graduation rates and retention rates have increased, which means that our students are moving into the workforce or to another degree faster than ever.
He partnered with Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and founding dean of the College of Medicine, in ensuring that our College of Medicine achieved full accreditation.
In his role in overseeing the budget, Provost Waldrop helped lead ÐÔÊӽ紫ý to success in meeting strict new performance measures established by the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Board of Governors. In 2013, ÐÔÊӽ紫ý tied for the most funding awarded to universities for meeting these performance goals.
Provost Waldrop was also involved in the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý and Central ÐÔÊӽ紫ý communities, notably as an enthusiastic co-chair of ÐÔÊӽ紫ý’s partnership with the American Heart Association. He also serves on the board of directors for the YMCA of Central ÐÔÊӽ紫ý and Junior Achievement of Central ÐÔÊӽ紫ý, two of the many ways he contributes to our community.
On behalf of all of ÐÔÊӽ紫ý, I wish Tony and his wife, Julee, much success and happiness at the University of South Alabama. We are grateful for all they contributed to ÐÔÊӽ紫ý, and they will always have friends in Central ÐÔÊӽ紫ý.
The search for a new provost will begin immediately. We will provide more information soon about Provost Waldrop’s departure date, the search for our next provost, and our plans for the interim period.