Interim provost named at Lincoln University

Lincoln University has named a new interim provost.

The university’s current head of history, philosophy, and political science, Debra Greene will take the position according to an e-mail from President Kevin Rome Monday.

The naming follows Said Sewell announcing an extended leave of absence for personal reasons last week.

Sewell’s leave of absence comes just weeks after an overwhelming vote of no confidence by the faculty senate. The faculty senate said the provost routinely ignored the faculty’s voice and did not respond to members’ concerns.

Lincoln University Faculty Senate Chair Bryan Salmons said many on campus did not quite know what to make of Sewell’s leave.

“The letter to the executive committee by the president indicated that he would return at some time, at some point,” Salmons said. “But there are lots of rumors going around that that’s not going to be the case, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Green came to Lincoln in 1996, and was promoted to assistant professor in 2001. She holds a bachelor degree in history, mastered in American history and holds a doctorate in American history.

Salmons said he believes Green will do things differently than Sewell and faculty members expect good things to come out of her filling the position.

“Part of it is investing in people and relationships and paying attention to the facts on the ground, and she’s already in a position to do that,” Salmons said. “She has done that in previous roles.”

Said Sewell has been the Provost and Vice-President of Academic Affairs at Lincoln since August 2014.