University of Mary Washington President Troy D. Paino notified faculty and staff in an email on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, that Dr. Jonathan Levin will no longer serve as provost, but will be “reassigned duties effective immediately, as he begins preparations to assume teaching duties as a tenured professor in the Department of English, Linguistics, and Communication for the fall 2017 term.”
Dr. Nina Mikhalevsky, professor of Philosophy and interim dean of the College of Education, will assume the role of acting provost.
The provost, who reports to the president, is the chief academic officer of the university, and has oversight of academic programs, curriculum, academic planning and budgets, teaching, research, and faculty matters.
Following is Dr. Paino’s complete email:
To UMW Faculty and Staff,
I am writing to inform you of a significant change that I am making among my senior leadership team. I have spent the first five months of my presidency getting to know Mary Washington through meeting and listening to many individuals who are associated with the University. I have given much thoughtful consideration to the strengths of the institution and to its challenges going forward. And, in collaboration with the Board of Visitors and many of the members of this community, I have begun to formulate a vision for moving UMW into a bright future.
By mutual agreement, Dr. Jonathan Levin and I have concluded that it will be in the best long term interest of the University that I take the opportunity now to begin establishing my own academic leadership team. Accordingly, Dr. Levin will be reassigned duties effective immediately, as he begins preparations to assume teaching duties as a tenured professor in the Department of English, Linguistics, and Communication for the fall 2017 term. I want to thank Dr. Levin for his dedicated service to the University over the past three and one-half years as provost and to wish him well in his new role.
I am also announcing that I have asked Dr. Nina Mikhalevsky, Professor of Philosophy and Interim Dean of the College of Education, to assume the role of acting provost, also effective immediately. Dr. Mikhalevsky is an experienced academic administrator who I am confident will provide effective leadership in the Office of the Provost over the coming months.
I anticipate sharing more information about my vision and plans for the future of UMW at the All University Assembly on Thursday, January 19, at 4:00 p.m., in Dodd Auditorium in George Washington Hall. I hope you have a restful and enjoyable semester break and I look forward to seeing everyone when we return.
Sincerely,
Troy D. Paino, J.D., Ph.D.
President
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