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HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) — Amy Chasteen Miller has been named the University of Southern Mississippi's first associate provost for academic excellence.
Miller begins work July 1.
The Hattiesburg American reports (http://hatne.ws/1KSbf5L) Miller will lead USM's increased focus on undergraduate student engagement and faculty development.
Miller said she'll be spending the first half-year in the position doing research on how she can be most effective.
"The most important job in the first six months is listening — what do we need and how can I help?" she said. "It's a brand-new position, so there are a lot of the details still to be worked out — where students need more support, where things are going well."
USM President Rodney Bennett said Miller also will work on student retention and progression.
Miller came to USM in 1997 as a faculty member in sociology. In 2009, she became chairwoman of the Department of Anthropology and Sociology.
In 2013, she was named associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Arts and Letters, where she spearheaded the college's efforts to recruit, engage and enhance the experiences of undergraduates.
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Information from: The Hattiesburg American, http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com
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