Interim provost Brent Thomas addresses campus during a forum Monday in Webb Hall. Thomas is one of four candidates for the open provost position.
Brent Thomas, interim provost and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was announced as Emporia State’s new provost Monday afternoon. Thomas was one of four candidates for the university’s open provost position.
“Dr. Thomas was selected for his leadership, his ability to forge relationships and for his vision for the future of Emporia State University,” said President Ken Hush in a campus-wide email on Monday.
Thomas was offered a variety of contract options for his new role and chose a first-of-its-kind, performance-based agreement, according to Hush’s email.
Thomas has been at ESU since 2006, according to his curriculum vitae. He has served in several roles, including professor and chair of the biological sciences department.
In September, ESU dismissed 33 faculty and staff and suspended multiple programs after approval from the Kansas Board of Regents. Thomas defended the decisions during an emergency faculty senate meeting Sept. 9 and during an interview with The Bulletin Sept. 21.
During his provost candidate forum on Nov. 16, Thomas said his first priority would be working to heal the damaged trust and relationships from those decisions.
“I think that experience, my deep commitment to the institution, knowledge of this institution and the relationships that I have spent almost two decades building will prove very useful in helping the university move forward,” Thomas said at the forum.
Thomas did not respond to a voicemail request to comment.