Georgia Southern University Names Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

May 14, 2009

Georgia Southern University President Bruce Grube named Gary Means, Ph.D. interim provost and vice president of academic affairs Thursday. Means will serve in this position from July 1, 2009 until June 30, 2010.

Means is currently the dean of the University’s Division of Continuing Education and Public Services. He is filling the position that will be left by Linda Bleicken, Ph.D. who was named president of Armstrong Atlantic State University earlier this week.

‘Gary Means has more than three decades of experience in higher education and has proven to be an excellent leader during his time at Georgia Southern. I know his expertise and strong leadership skills will keep the Office of the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs moving forward during this important time for our growing University,” said Grube.

Means came to Georgia Southern University in 2006. He has also served as dean of Continuing Education at California State University-San Marcos and dean of Continuing Education and dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Colorado State University-Pueblo. Means has been a tenured faculty member at Arizona State University, Colorado State University-Pueblo and San Diego State University.

‘I am honored to be asked to serve as provost and vice president of academic affairs at such an excellent University. My goal is to continue the forward momentum we have established at Georgia Southern and to maintain the commitment to excellence and great progress Dr. Bleicken established in academic affairs,” said Means.

Means received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in social work from San Diego State. He earned a Ph.D. in social work and public administration from Denver University. He also served 35 years in the Army Reserve and spent a decade coordinating humanitarian assistance missions throughout Asia for the State Department and Army Medical Corps.

Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers 115 degree programs serving nearly 18,000 students.Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education.Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.