By Haley Knight |
Editor-in-Chief
Interim Provost Zach Kelehear looks forward to working with President Brooks Keel to continue the work of outgoing Provost Gretchen Caughman while a national search for a permanent provost is being conducted.
“I find in President Keel’s invitation to serve as interim a vote of trust, a sense of confidence and a belief in my capacity to lead,” said Kelehear.
Keel has high expectations for Augusta University with a strong commitment to working with faculty and staff to enhance student success.
“Just as important as having high expectations, he (Keel) is very supportive of those expectations. He is available,” said Kelehear. “He is thoughtful and a visionary.”
Kelehear has previously worked on implementing provisions for the Fall 2020 semester. He implemented courses for professors, staff and faculty about Hybrid, Online and in-person courses.
He advised that all 56 peer tutors and coaches in the Academic Success Center train to convey their services online.
The primary focus as interim provost is in the academic area. Kelehear faces the challenge of ensuring student safety during the pandemic.
“We will address these challenges and adjust as necessary to ensure continuity of instruction and to provide an excellent experience for our students,” said Kelehear. “Out of this crisis, our faculty have developed new ways of delivering instruction all the time with student benefit as a central motivator.”
It is a smooth transition with Provost Caughman due to her team of leaders who have a constant attitude of collaboration toward shared goals, says Kelehear.
“My only regret is that not everyone has had the opportunity to work as closely with her (Caughman) as I have had,” said Kelehear. “I consider it a unique privilege to have worked with her and I will seek to model her excellence in all that I do.”
