ASU: Announce New Provost & VP

SMITH NAMED INTERIM PROVOST,
LAFEVOR NAMED INTERIM VP FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

​Athens State University is pleased to announce that Dr. Jackie Smith has been appointed as its interim Provost and Dr. Kim LaFevor has been appointed as its interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, effective immediately. This selection follows the recent announcement that Dr. Joe Delap, former Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, had been appointed as the University’s new Vice President for Corporate and Community Relations.

Dr. Jackie Smith has a total of 34 years of experience in higher education, with 14 of those years spent at Athens State. She has a Master of Science in Management from Faulkner University and an EdD in Higher Education Administration from the University of Alabama. Smith has worked in the office of the Provost at Athens State for eight years holding positions as Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. Before that, she held various academic roles as Interim Library Director, Interim Administrative Dean for the College of Education, and Director of the Quality Enhancement Plan in addition to ten years of teaching experience. She currently serves as the University’s SACSCOC accreditation liaison and provides leadership for Athens State’s Adult Degree Program, Kares Library, Institutional Research and Assessment, University Writing Center, and Testing Center. Smith is married to Phillip Smith, and together, they have three sons and two grandchildren.

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A native of Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Kim LaFevor has a Bachelor of Science degree with dual majors in Psychology and Personnel Psychology from Athens State University, a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Troy University, and a DBA with dual majors in Management and Education from the University of Sarasota. Dr. LaFevor has 29 years of experience in academia, 21 years of experience in the private sector industry working for General Motors, and 17 years combined executive-level experience. During her 15-year tenure at Athens State University, she served as the Department Chair for the Management, Human Resources, and Management of Technology departments for seven years, and more recently, has served as the Dean of the College of Business for the last seven years. In addition to her work with Athens State, LaFevor has also taught human resource management and business management curriculum collegiately at the associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral level spanning a period of 29 years at both public and private academic institutions.

“Dr. LaFevor has a rich background in developing and executing strategic initiatives and is ably suited for this interim role,” stated Dr. Philip Way, President of Athens State University. “Meanwhile, Dr. Smith’s long tenure in the Provost Office, including her role as SACSCOC liaison, equips her to assume control as Provost without missing a beat.”

Athens State in the process of selecting a search firm to assist in the process of finding a new Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs.

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Athens State University was founded in 1822, making it the oldest continuously-operated institute of higher learning in the state of Alabama. Offering over 50 undergraduate majors and degree options in addition to graduate programs, Athens State focuses on providing affordable, flexible, and high-quality options for all learners.

Athens State University – Your University. Your Way.

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