Provost to step down in January

The University of Mississippi will soon be looking for a new provost.

Carolyn Staton, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Mississippi, has announced that she will step down from her position in January, according to a university press release.

Chancellor Robert Khayat has chosen Morris Stocks, senior vice chancellor for planning and operations, to serve as interim provost beginning January 1. Stocks has formerly served as dean of the School of Accountancy and associate provost.

“The entire university community is indebted to Carolyn for her many years of faithful service to the University both as a member of the law school faculty and an administrator,” Khayat said.

Staton’s resignation is the first step in her retirement plans, which will culminate in her full retirement from the university June 30, 2008. The provost announced her plans to retire earlier this year.

Staton has served as provost since 1999.