FAIRMONT, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Fairmont State University Board of Governors voted earlier this month to begin negotiations to name university Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost, Dianna Phillips, as the interim president for the university.
The announcement follows that of the university on May 18 of this year to end the contract of University President Mirta M. Martin effective July 18 of this year – LOOTPRESS coverage of this development can be found here.
The decision came as a result of a meeting of the Fairmont State University Board of Governors, at which a vote was conducted to end Martin’s contract after it was revealed that she would not be seeking renewal.
“I am so incredibly blessed to have already served in this role for nearly five years,” Martin said of her departure. “During this time, Fairmont has become my home, and the Falcon family, my family. It is an honor and an absolute privilege to serve all of you. It is also my honor to serve this institution and the State of West Virginia as your President, as President of the Council of Presidents, and as President of the Board of the Mountain East Conference.”
Bringing over 20 years of experience in higher education to the table, and having served in a number of roles ranging from executive, leadership, and faculty positions, Phillips has demonstrated her capacity to take on the role of interim president by taking on university responsibility throughout the month.
“Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been very pleased with Dr. Phillips taking administrative responsibility for the campus, and the Board would like to enter into negotiations to ask Dr. Phillips to be our interim president with mutual terms if so willing,” said Fairmont State University Board of Governors Chairman, David Goldberg.
Phillips has earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Foundations of Education with an emphasis on Higher Education Administration from the University of Buffalo, as well as a Master of Science from Buffalo State College in Student Personnel Administration with an emphasis on Adult Education.
She also earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Legal Studies from National University in San Diego, as well as an Associate General Studies Degree from Chaminade University in Honolulu. Phillips also served as the President of the Hartford Community College in Bel Air, Maryland prior to her tenure at Fairmont State.
“As a West Virginia native and granddaughter of a coal miner, higher education has made a profound impact on my life,” Phillips said. “I am honored the Board has demonstrated its confidence in me to serve Fairmont State University as the interim president, and I look forward to continuing the wonderful work on campus alongside our faculty, staff and students. It takes all of us to move the University forward.”
According to Goldberg, the university is set to begin the process of a national presidential search RFP in September of this year. Updates on the search as it develops can be followed here at the Fairmont State University website.