After only a month as acting interim chancellor, Morris Stocks has had the opportunity to experience many of the aspects of his new position.
“What’s great about this job is, it’s busy and your days are filled, but it’s always interacting with people who are positive about the university and are looking for ways to help,” Stocks said. “I really enjoy that.”
Stocks was named interim chancellor after Dan Jones was ousted by the Institutions of Higher Learning board in March. Though Stocks does not officially become interim until September 15, when Jones’ contract ends, he took the position in June after Jones took a personal vacation and returned to his home in Hazlehurst, Mississippi.
Stocks said, since taking the position, he has been busy but productive. For the duration his time as chancellor, Stocks named Noel Wilkin, current associate provost, as his interim provost.
After last week’s listening sessions highlighted many questions of trust students and faculty have for the college board, Stocks said he hoped the university could move forward.
“As I speak with Chancellor Jones, he is so excited about his future,” Stocks said. “He’s got great opportunities there. He is moving forward and encourages us to move forward – that includes in all activities with our governing board.”
Stocks said the board was “committed” to finding the right chancellor for the university and he would approach the college board with the same respect and trust as before. He said he did not believe Jones’ removal would deter candidates, as some asked at the listening session.
“I don’t think anybody wanted the sequence of events that happened, but there are going to be people who want this job because, as I said, this is a wonderful university,” Stocks said. “I believe there will be a good number of people interested in leading this university.”
Taking on the position had an ulterior affect on Stocks’ career path, however. As interim, Stocks becomes ineligible for nomination to the chancellor’s position. If that policy were not in place, Stocks said, it might have been different.
“I want to serve in the position that best serves the university,” Stocks said. “If that were in the chancellor’s position, if our board were to determine that I was the right candidate for the position, I would serve and consider it a high privilege.”
Following the introduction of the new chancellor, Stocks said he would not return to his position as provost.
“I’ve served in that role for eight years,” Stocks said. “It’s been a truly outstanding experience for me. I think it might be time for a new provost, someone with slightly different perspectives and objectives.”
In his time as interim, however, Stocks said, though there are always complications in a position such as his, there are many opportunities on which he would like to capitalize.
“I intend to dedicate myself to continuing the momentum in enrollment, outstanding students and outstanding faculty,” Stocks said. “If I serve in this position for six or eight months, my goal would be to leave the university in a better place then when I moved to this position.”
After serving as interim, Stocks said he has many options for his next step.
“I’ve never been a good career planner,” Stocks said. “I came here to be a faculty member; I can do that and be completely happy and fulfilled. If there is another administrative opportunity that my skill set matched, I would go there.”
Leaving Ole Miss, however, is not an option, he said.
“After 25 years, I’ve established a strong love and affection for this university,” Stocks said.
And he has no intentions to leave.
