The Institutions of Higher Learning preferred candidate for the University’s new chancellor, Jeffery Vitter, will be visiting with campus constituency groups today in the Inn at Ole Miss ballrooms.
The college board announced Vitter as the preferred candidate for chancellorship on Oct. 19, and according to University public relations director Danny Blanton, the outcome of the constituency groups will determine whether Vitter will be the next person to fill the void left by the termination of former Chancellor Dan Jones’ contract.
(Jeffrey S. Vitter, selected by the state college board as the preferred candidate for Chancellor of the University of Mississippi, speaks with Michelle Wheeler a first year medical student at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Wednesday, Oct. 28 for the job. |Rogelio V. Solis: Associated Press)
“Our campus constituents have the opportunity to meet Dr. Vitter as our preferred candidate and for him to have the opportunity to get to know each of them,” Blanton said. “He’s very excited about the opportunity to meet everyone – not just to receive questions from them, but also have an opportunity to have a personal interaction with as many of them as he can. He’s looking forward to shaking their hand and introducing himself.”
Vitter, a native of New Orleans, is the provost, executive vice chancellor and the Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor at the University of Kansas. He received a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame, an M.B.A. from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University as well as a Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford University.
Vitter met with several hundred faculty, staff, students and alumni Wednesday afternoon at the University Medical Center. Sessions were held in the UMMC student union to give Vitter the opportunity to describe his vision and core values to each of the constituents.
“It was very informative, and the faculty, staff and students were very engaged,” said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, UMMC vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. “He was very confident in answering questions, and he showed a high level of energy, passion for education and a commitment to excellence. I was impressed by his academic credentials, and I look forward to the good things that can happen.”
Blanton said even though there are designated times for each constituency’s session, the University encourages students and faculty to come to any session that is convenient for them. After all sessions meet, IHL will hold a board meeting to decide if they think Vitter is a good fit for chancellor. A press conference is scheduled for 3 p.m. today in which the college board will announce their final decision.
“This is a very important position for our campus,” Blanton said. “We’re excited to have someone with credentials and the impressive background that Dr. Vitter has and we would like our campus community to come see and get to know him as well.”
