Two MSU administrators officially begin their new roles with the university today.
Kim Wilcox becomes MSU's new provost and Alison Barber officially takes over duties as the new secretary of the Board of Trustees and executive assistant to the president.
Wilcox said his first mission as MSU's provost would be to "listen and learn" from students, faculty and other administrators at a university that he first called home nearly 30 years ago.
Wilcox, who's had several different leadership positions, including three years as president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents, said he will bring different experiences and perspective to MSU.
"I've learned that each university has its own cultures and traditions, but each try to achieve the same thing for their students," Wilcox said in May.
The MSU Board of Trustees confirmed Wilcox as MSU's next provost in early June after a nationwide search. The position was vacated last year when former Provost Lou Anna K. Simon took over for departing MSU President M. Peter McPherson.
As provost, Wilcox said he wants to help make the jobs of faculty members as easy as possible, so they can continue to enforce the same educational values and welcoming environment that first drew him to the university as an undergraduate.
The first challenge Wilcox will face is dealing with MSU's budget woes, said Board of Trustees Chairman David Porteous.
"Any time there are budget discussions, first thing you have to do is talk about priorities," Wilcox said in July, admitting it wasn't possible to do everything. "We have to be smart about doing the most important ones."
Barber succeeds associate journalism Professor Sue Carter as secretary of the board and executive assistant to the president. She will be responsible for organizing information for meetings, assisting the president's daily activities and acting as a liaison between MSU students, faculty and administrators.
A senior associate dean since 2001, Barber has served as the Eli Broad College of Business' chief academic officer and has been responsible for administering the college's budget and personnel administration.
"I'll be learning a lot in a big hurry, but it's the learning that makes it exciting," she said.
