A champion of Florida State University academics and faculty now heads the university as interim president.
Garnett S. Stokes, who has served as provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs since 2011, assumed her new role April 2.
Stokes was selected for the position by Florida State University’s Board of Trustees, and her appointment was approved by the State University System of Florida Board of Governors.
“There’s a lot of momentum at Florida State,” Stokes said at this year’s FSU Day at the Capitol on April 1. “We are hiring outstanding faculty across campus, hiring entrepreneurs-in-residence in every college to help students learn how to make it in the real world no matter their major and launching innovative new research institutes.”
Stokes holds an appointment as a professor of psychology at Florida State. Previously, she served as dean of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia from 2004 to 2011.
“Dr. Stokes is uniquely qualified to continue the momentum of Florida State’s rise in rankings and fundraising initiatives as well as the research and creative activities that support the academic mission of the university’s 41,000 undergraduate and graduate students during this transition,” said Allan Bense, chairman of the Florida State University Board of Trustees.
Stokes appointed Sally McRorie, vice president for Faculty Development and Advancement, as interim provost, also effective April 2.
McRorie will serve as interim provost through the conclusion of the presidential search process. She will oversee academic resources development, enhancement of scholarship and research and evaluation of the quality of academic activity as well as review of faculty appointments. She will continue to collaborate with deans, faculty and university administrators to promote academic excellence and advance the institution’s academic mission.
“I am honored to serve as interim provost at Florida State,” McRorie said. “Our great programs, students and faculty deserve seamless support during our leadership transition. My job will be to build upon the important initiatives underway.”
Both interim appointments follow the departure of Eric J. Barron, who left Florida State to assume the presidency of Penn State University.