Kennesaw State announces new provost, vice president for academic affairs
W. Ken Harmon becomes second provost and chief academic officer in KSU’s history …
Georgia (Dec 5, 2011) —
W. Ken Harmon becomes second provost and chief academic officer in KSU’s history
Downloadable photo available at: www.kennesaw.edu/provost/harmon.jpg
KENNESAW, Ga. (Dec. 5, 2011) — After a nationwide search that attracted 81 applicants, Kennesaw State University
President Daniel S. Papp today announced the selection of W. Ken Harmon as the institution’s
new provost and vice president for academic affairs, effective immediately.
Harmon, professor of accounting and the Tony and Jack Dinos Eminent Scholar Chair
of Entrepreneurial Management at KSU, has served as the university’s interim provost
and vice president for academic affairs since July 2010. Previously, Harmon held
top administrative posts at several business schools in the Southeast, including at
Kennesaw State where he was named dean of the Coles College of Business in 2009.
“Since joining Kennesaw State, Ken Harmon has demonstrated that he is an excellent
leader who is committed to helping guide KSU on its path toward national prominence,”
Papp stated. “During his interim appointment, Ken has been highly engaged both on
campus and in the community, and he has established a very strong and positive reputation.
It’s clear to me that he is definitely the right person for this important position
at this critical stage in the university’s transformation.”
Since his appointment as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs,
Harmon has been instrumental in elevating Kennesaw State’s profile and stature through
the development of new undergraduate and graduate degree programs. He also has refined
processes, developed community partnerships and worked with faculty and staff to support
initiatives that have strengthened key programs.
Harmon joined KSU in 2006 as head of the university’s accounting program. After being
named dean of the Coles College, Harmon collaborated closely with Atlanta-area companies
and helped to raise the profile of the college, now regarded as one of the top business
schools in the Southeast.
Prior to joining Kennesaw State, Harmon served as dean of the Else School of Management
at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., and chair of the accounting departments at
the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Middle Tennessee State University,
and Arizona State University’s West Campus. He also served on the accounting faculties
of the University of Missouri and Drexel University.
Harmon holds a Doctor of Business Administration in accounting, with a minor in computer
science, from the University of Tennessee.
“First, I want to thank Dr. Papp, the search committee and the entire KSU community
for their vote of confidence in naming me to this post,” Harmon stated. “When I first
came to Kennesaw State, the energy and excitement was palpable. This university has
an entrepreneurial spirit like no other and I feel as if I have truly found a home
here. I welcome the opportunity to use my experience and enthusiasm to help shape
KSU’s future and to help catapult the university to the next level.”
The provost and vice president for academic affairs is the university’s chief academic
officer and reports to the president. The provost serves as a senior member of the
president’s leadership team, chairs the university’s Deans’ Council and leads the
faculty in their efforts to strengthen academic programs and foster a culture of academic
excellence and community.
In naming Harmon, Papp also expressed gratitude to the members of the search committee
for their dedicated work throughout the search process.
“I truly appreciate the dedication and hard work of the entire search committee who
represented every aspect of the KSU community,” Papp said. “I would especially like
to recognize Dr. Tom Keene, professor of history and chair of the search committee,
for his leadership.”
The search process for the new provost began in August 2010, when Papp appointed the
15-member provost search committee. The search was conducted to fill the vacancy
formed by the departure of KSU’s former provost, Lendley C. Black, who stepped down
in July 2010 after being named chancellor of the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The
committee was comprised of KSU faculty, staff and students, as well as a member of
the KSU Foundation board of trustees.
A pool of 81 applicants submitted the required materials to be considered for Kennesaw
State’s chief academic officer position. That pool was narrowed down to nine candidates
during the first round and on November 23, three finalists were announced. Last week,
the finalists participated in a series of day-long meetings and interviews with students,
faculty, staff, administrators and alumni at Kennesaw State.
Parker Executive Search aided Kennesaw State’s provost search committee in conducting
the national search.
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Kennesaw State University is the third-largest university in Georgia, offering 80
graduate and undergraduate degrees, including doctorates in education, business and
nursing, and a new Ph.D. in international conflict management. A member of the 35-unit
University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State is a comprehensive, residential institution
with a growing population of more than 24,100 students from 142 countries.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its approximately 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the third-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 92 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status, and one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
