Southwestern University names James Hunt Acting Provost and Dean of the Faculty

May 3, 1999

James W. Hunt, Southwestern University professor and chair of the Department of Education, has been named acting provost and dean of the faculty, effective July 1, 1999.

An active and highly-respected community leader, notably in the areas of primary and secondary school education and innovative university-school partnerships, Hunt most recently has been the coordinator of Southwestern's master planning process, a campus-wide initiative that will chart the university's bold course for the first decade of the 21st Century.

Hunt will replace William B. Jones, currently interim provost and dean of the faculty, who has been promoted to executive vice president and the university's chief operating officer for the 1999-2000 academic year. President Roy B. Shilling, Jr. announced earlier this spring that he will retire in June 2000 but plans to spend much of his final year as president off-campus, meeting ambitious fund-raising and institutional visibility objectives. Shilling has been Southwestern's president since 1981.

Both Shilling and Jones offered the highest praise to Hunt's leadership skills and service to his community.

"Jim Hunt has masterfully guided Southwestern University through a rigorous process of purposeful self-evaluation and planning for a new century of teaching and learning," said President Shilling. "He is a leader among leaders."

Jones added, "Jim is the consummate diplomat. He listens carefully and earnestly and provides sage guidance. He should excel in this position since he already has earned the trust and respect of the Southwestern community."

Hunt's appointment was made after the national search for a permanent provost and dean of the faculty ultimately did not deliver a candidate who was synonymous with Southwestern's mission, heritage and long-term objectives.

Shilling said Hunt was the clear choice from among the faculty to assume the university's second highest-ranking post during a time of great promise and transition.

Hunt has been at Southwestern since 1988, and chair of the Department of Education since 1996. Until recently, he chaired the university's Division of Social Sciences. He, also, directs the Southwestern University Mathematics Academy.

He is the executive director of Operation Achievement, a Southwestern mentoring and enrichment program which pairs Southwestern students with Georgetown junior and high school students who are "at-risk." He, also, represents Southwestern on the board of directors of the Georgetown Partners in Education Program. His responsibilities include overseeing the Project Mentor program. He currently mentors a student at Williams Elementary School.

Over the past five years, Hunt has worked with the Georgetown and Taylor Independent School Districts as a consultant on issues related to mathematics curriculum and academic improvement. He is widely published in various educational journals and reports, and he has delivered nearly 40 presentations and workshops around the state and nation.

He received both his master's degree and doctorate in elementary education from Northwestern State University of Louisiana. He obtained his bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Central Methodist College.

Hunt resides in Georgetown with spouse Diane-an elementary teacher for the Georgetown Independent School District-and two sons, John and James. They are members of St. John's Methodist Church where Hunt teaches a 4th and 5th grade class.

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