On the wall behind Tom Hackett’s desk is a photograph of his father at a graduation ceremony. Asked what Paul Thomas Hackett would think about his son being named provost and vice president of academic affairs at Columbus State University, Hackett replied, “Proud, but I think his proudest day would have been the one I was named a professor.”

The new provost -- the university’s chief academic officer -- is a CSU alumnus and has a son who is a freshman there. His father taught Latin, Greek and English at CSU for about 20 years until his death in 1990. Hackett said his father loved education and loved the place he worked, as he does.

Hackett was a high school teacher, principal, a system-level chief of operations, and a superintendent of schools in Phenix City before retiring in 2004 to teach educational leadership at CSU.

“When I got the word of my appointment I thought of my father,” Hackett said. “He would be pleased and stunned at how far we’ve come as a school.”

CSU President Tim Mescon made the announcement on Wednesday.

Hackett, 56, has been serving as the interim provost for the past year and a half. He replaces Inessa Levi, who resigned Sept. 16, 2010, after a no-confidence vote by the faculty. She continues to serve on the faculty as a math professor.

Levi, the university’s first provost, held the job for less than 14 months, receiving a 77 percent no-confidence vote nine months after coming to CSU from Western Illinois University.

In 2010, when the no-confidence vote was taken, associate English professor Susan Hrach was the school’s faculty senate director. At that time, she felt that faculty were not given the opportunity to contribute to the university’s strategic plan.

“It seems Dr. Hackett is someone who has established himself as a person we can work with,” Hrach said.

She said there seems to have been more stability on campus over the last year.

Earl Coleman, a member of the selection committee, said Hackett has a different style of management than Levi.

“He listens,” said Coleman, the William and Isabelle Curry Eminent Scholar Chair in Voice at the CSU Schwob School of Music.

He said he likes that Hackett is a “known quantity” and that he has a long history with the school.

“Dr. Hackett has an understanding of what we are and where we are going,” Coleman said.

He called Hackett someone who is “not afraid to make the tough decision.”

Despite the lofty position, Hackett said he still considers himself a faculty member and that he has a long-established relationship with the faculty.

He considered it a great compliment when he was told a committee member referred to him as a great listener.

“Leaders should listen to the folks doing the work,” Hackett said. “Bring talented people together and let them do the job.”

“Many of the comments I heard from committee members referred to his listening capabilities and how genuine they found him,” Mescon said.

Hackett emerged from a national search that was narrowed to four finalists, who were interviewed on campus this year.

The others were Nat Frazer, former dean of the College of Natural Resources at Utah State University; Dale Ostlie, the former dean of the College of Science at Weber State University; and Peter Millet, dean of the College of Education at Tennessee State University.

Hackett has served as a faculty member, chairman of the department of counseling, educational leadership, and professional studies in CSU’s College of Education and Health Professions, as well as the director of CSU’s Graduate School.

He was involved in designing and launching CSU’s first doctoral degree program.

Hackett holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Columbus State University, an education specialist designation from Auburn University, and a doctorate from the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Mescon noted the different roles that Hackett has played.

“Tom brings a great body of personal and professional experiences to the office,” he said.

Mescon said Hackett’s role as interim over a long period of time, basically an audition, gave those in the school an opportunity to judge him on behavior and action rather than just words.

Hackett said one of his most immediate priorities will include working on the completion of a salary equity study.

He is proud that during his time as interim, three academic deans were hired.

Hackett said he will be working hard on the retention and graduation of students. He said he has worked well with Mescon.

“Dr. Mescon has supported me in everything I have brought him,” Hackett said.