Carolynn Masters, Ph. D., announced that she will be resigning from her position as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at the end of this week.
In an email sent Wednesday morning that addressed the Gannon community, Masters said she was stepping down because she feels that she needs to be with her husband, Tom, while he continues to recover from a stroke.
“At this time, I do not feel that I can be effective in my role as a leader but do look forward to returning to serve the university in some capacity when the time is right,” Masters said in the email.
“I truly believe that the university will identify an individual who is able to devote the time and energy to continue our strategic initiatives and support the faculty and students in your work.”
Masters said that the decision to resign was not an easy one and that she had given it careful thought.
“I am blessed to be a part of such a wonderful and caring community,” Masters said. “Tom and I have greatly appreciated all of the kindness, love and support that you have shown over the past several months.
“I believe in Gannon and am committed to its mission, its faculty and most importantly, its students and their success.”
Masters said her last day serving as the provost will be Friday.
Gannon President Keith Taylor, Ph. D., said in an email that he is disappointed that Masters is leaving, but is supportive of her decision.
“We will keep her in our prayers and support her in every way we can as she works through this difficult time in her life,” Taylor said.
“She is such a wonderful person and valued colleague and I will stay in close communication and identify appropriate next steps for her at Gannon going forward.”
Taylor also said that Steve Mauro, Ph. D., who had been the dean of the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences, will serve as interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs for the remainder of the current academic year.
Mauro is set to begin in his role on Monday and is scheduled to gather the Provost Council in the coming week.
Taylor also said that the combination of Masters’ resignation and a pre-existing plan for Kathleen Kingston, Ph. D., to transition out of the associate provost role in June of 2016 and to retire the following year provoked a review of the university’s academic administration.
Taylor said that Gannon plans to revise that structure in a way that would “repurpose” the two current academic leadership positions of provost and vice president for Academic Affairs and the associate provost.
“I am confident there is a better structure that will provide not only for a more effective academic leadership and manageable work flow for the university but also for a more manageable and balanced lifestyle for the individuals serving in these roles,” Taylor said.
Taylor said in his email that he plans to further these actions by engaging the Faculty Senate, holding an open faculty forum 1 p.m. Friday and discussing the new model with the Board of Trustees at its scheduled meeting on Nov. 13.
Masters, who also is a registered nurse, came to Gannon in 2000 and in 2008 was named dean of the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences. She was appointed provost and vice president for Academic Affairs in early 2013.
Prior to that, Masters was an associate professor and director of Gannon’s Villa Maria School of Nursing and in 2006 was named dean of what was then Gannon’s College of Sciences, Engineering and Health Sciences.
SAMANTHA GRISWOLD
