Linda Morris Named UI Provost
Monday, December 6 2004
December 6, 2004 MOSCOW – Linda J. Morris, a professor of business and interim associate vice provost for academic and student affairs, will serve as provost at the University of Idaho for an interim appointment. UI President Timothy P. White announced the appointment today. “Dr. Morris has held many academic and leadership assignments during her 30-year career at the University of Idaho, and thus brings a wealth of significant experience, perspective and accomplishment to this current assignment,” said White. “Linda has demonstrated an ability to be analytical and work openly and collegially with many campus constitutiences. She embraces a coordinated, strategic and decentralized approach to decision making and action and has been involved in making difficulty and timely decisions and taking actions.” Outgoing Provost Brian Pitcher echoed President White’s support of Morris. “Linda is a careful decision-maker, committed to high academic standards and to the success of UI students, faculty and staff,” he said. “Her critical thinking and analytical skills, and her planning/marketing experience match institutional needs for the coming months.” Pitcher’s last day at UI is in early January; he and Morris will spend the next two weeks working on the transition in leadership. She will assume her new responsibilities on Jan. 10. Morris said she is looking forward to the challenges of the new position. “I am both honored and humbled to be selected for the position,” she said. “I am honored that my campus colleagues thought enough of my experience at the university to nominate me, and I am humbled that so many wrote to President White to support my appointment. This job will be tough. Many of the decisions yet to come are not the responsibility of any one person, but rather, the result of a process that should be fair, equitable, and collaborative. If we can work together, we can get this huge ship back on course. I am willing to take on this challenging position and lay the foundation for a permanent provost, but I need the campus to join together in a productive way to reach this goal.” She indicated she will not be a candidate for the permanent position “because the person is this role must be viewed as decisive, and not there for political gain or self interests.” Her term is expected to continue until summer 2005, at which time a national search for this position is scheduled to be concluded. Morris joined UI in January 1974 and has worked with many academic units. She is a professor of business with an extensive list of publications, teaching awards and committee work. She served as director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs at UI from 1994 to 1997. Morris holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business education from the University of Oklahoma at Norman, an MBA from Central State University at Edmond, Okla., and a Ph.D. in education administration from UI. CONTACTS: Linda Morris, associate vice provost for academic and student affairs, (208) 885-7941, ljmorris@uidaho.edu; or Kathy Barnard, University Communications, (208) 885-6291, kbarnard@uidaho.edu Photo available at www.today.uidaho.edu/photolist.aspx. -30- krb12/6/04ADM==
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.