University Communications and Marketing

April 17, 2015

Contacts:
Aaron Clingingsmith, Director University Relations, Communications & Marketing, 794-7485 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — Candidates from Indiana, Kansas, New York and Wisconsin are finalists for the position of Montana State University Billings provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs, officials announced today.

The candidates will visit Billings for interviews and open public forums April 20 through April 29.

The finalists are, in order of their visit to campus: Dr. Darcy Zabel, interim president of Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, Dr. Mark W. Severson, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at SUNY Buffalo State; Dr. Kathy Parkison, interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at Indiana University Kokoma; and Dr. Robert Hoar, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Terrie Iverson, MSUB's vice chancellor for administration services, and Patrick Hughes, Health and Human Performance professor, were co-chairs of the 18-member committee tasked with finding MSU Billings’ next academic leader.

"With 83 applicants to choose from we had a very deep pool,” commented Hughes. “I was extremely impressed with the diligence of our committee and their commitment to finding the best finalists.”

The provost is an important member of MSUB's senior leadership team and reports to MSU Billings Chancellor Mark Nook.  A snapshot of the candidates' backgrounds, and date and time of each of their public forums follows:

Dr. Darcy Zabel, interim president of Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. Zabel has spent 17 years at Friends University serving as vice president for academic affairs, associate vice president for academic affairs and honors program director. She is also a tenured professor. Zabel has a doctorate in English from University of Connecticut. Zabel’s open forum will be held at 1:30 p.m., Monday, April 20, in Petro Theatre.

Dr. Mark W. Severson, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at SUNY Buffalo State. The School of Natural and Social Sciences consists of 13 departments and five research centers, employing more than 150 full-time and 100 part-time faculty, with a base budget of about $14 million and a research budget from external sources of about $2 million. Severson holds a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Minnesota. Severson’s open forum will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 22, in Petro Theatre.

Dr. Kathy Parkison, interim vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at Indiana University Kokoma. Parkison has spent 22 years at IU Kokomo serving as interim dean of the library, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs. Parkinson has a doctorate in industrial organization from Purdue University. Parkison’s open forum will be held at 1:30 p.m., Monday, April 27, in Petro Theatre.

Dr. Robert Hoar, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Hoar directs the Institute for Campus Excellence subdivision. He also manages the offices of Continuing Education & Extension, Graduate Studies, Institutional Research, Research & Sponsored Programs and Undergraduate Research. Hoar has a doctorate in mathematics from Montana State University. Hoar’s open forum will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 29, in Petro Theatre.

Iverson said the search committee hopes to have a new MSU Billings provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs in place by July 1.