Myers McRae Seeks Provost for Winthrop University

January 3, 2023 – Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has been enlisted to find the next provost for Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. Kenny Daugherty, the search firm’s president, is leading the assignment.

Winthrop’s previous provost, Adrienne McCormick, stepped down last summer to become provost at the University of Redlands in California. Peter Judge, a professor emeritus of religious studies, has been serving as interim provost. “Winthrop University, a top ranked public, comprehensive, masters-level university, seeks a dynamic, innovative, and collaborative leader to serve as provost,” said Myers McRae. “As the chief academic officer, the provost guides the academic direction of Winthrop and fosters a cohesive leadership team across all academic and administrative support units that reflect the university’s commitment to academic excellence, teaching, and research. The provost reports directly to the president and serves on the president’s senior leadership team.”

Responsible for the division of academic affairs, the provost oversees the deans of five colleges and the library, as well as the offices of institutional research and effectiveness, grants and sponsored research, records and registration, and the provost leadership team. An advocate for all academic programs, the provost provides leadership to faculty and academic staff to ensure consistent quality standards in curriculum and programs meet the needs of students. This key strategic leader oversees the academic integrity of the university and provides leadership in long-range planning, budgeting, curriculum, and program development in the academic areas.

New Needs & Initiatives

Winthrop University’s provost is charged with refining the university’s academic and co-curricular programs, offerings, and services to anticipate new needs and initiatives as well as additional revenue-generating opportunities, said Myers McRae. In managing the division of academic affairs, this individual is also responsible for implementation of the university’s strategic plan and academic plans and defines and articulates the roles and activities of deans and direct reports. He or she also promotes and facilitates shared governance and promotes data-driven, decision-making processes that are collaborative and transparent across the university, among other responsibilities.

Candidates should have an earned doctorate or terminal degree and a proven
record of teaching, scholarship, and service that merit appointment as a full professor at Winthrop University, said Myers McRae. Previous substantial experience in the following areas are required: academic planning, fiscal management of large budgets, and resource allocation; oversight of shared governance processes to include policy development and maintenance and collaboration with faculty committees; personnel management to include the management of compensation plans and problem-solving; and, experience making high-level decisions and managing academic affairs-related communication.

Related: Myers McRae Assists the University of West Georgia in Provost Search

Founded in 1886, Winthrop University is ranked sixth by U.S. News & World Report among Southern public universities and in the top 20 of public and private institutions in the region. The university, which blends liberal arts, professional
programs, global awareness, and civic engagement, serves nearly 3,800 undergraduate and more than 900 graduate students. Students can pursue 48 undergraduate majors and 34 graduate programs and certificates across five
colleges: College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business Administration, College of Education, College of Visual & Performing Arts, and University College.

Respected Recruiters

Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting serves colleges, universities, independent schools, and other not-for-profit institutions. Nearly all of its search professionals have a minimum of 20 years of experience in higher education. The majority of the firm’s searches have been for presidents, chancellors, provosts, vice presidents, deans, and other senior academic and administrative leaders. Myers McRae recently placed the provost and vice president for academic and student affairs at East Georgia State College, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Savannah State University, and the vice president for business and financial services and chief business officer for the University of West Georgia, among others.

Emily Myers has led Myers McRae since 2008. As the firm’s executive officer, she has broadened the firm’s scope and modernized processes, emphasizing responsiveness, timeliness, effectiveness, and affordability. While utilizing new technology in the executive search process, Ms. Myers said she remains committed to the firm having person-to-person connections with candidates and that clients stay at the center of every search.

Known for her leadership expertise and commitment to excellence, Ms. Myers brings to the firm’s searches her extensive first-hand knowledge and experience in higher education administration. For most of her career, she served as senior vice president of university advancement and external affairs at Mercer University.

Mr. Daugherty has an extensive background in higher education administration, having served 28 years in public and independent institutions. Throughout his career in higher education, he had personnel responsibilities and served on numerous search committees for professional staff and administrators for the institution. Mr. Daugherty has conducted hundreds of searches for schools across the nation, including presidential searches for the University of Montana Western, Northwest Missouri State University, McDaniel College, Oakwood University, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Pasco-Hernando State College, Pierpont Community and Technical College, Wichita Area Technical College, and the Georgia Independent College Association.

Related: Myers McRae Assists Pfeiffer University with Provost Search

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media