Columbus State’s provost moving to different position

Columbus State University’s provost and vice president for academic affairs is moving to a different position at CSU and will lead a new initiative.

Tom Hackett announced in a campus-wide email he is returning to the doctoral and leadership programs in CSU’s College of Education and Health Professions. He said he has accepted CSU President Chris Markwood’s request to “create a more robust partnership” between the university and the Muscogee County School District.

“This initiative will involve not only Teacher Education and Counselor and Leader preparation programs but programs throughout the university in collaborative efforts with the K-12 schools that will create a true K-20 partnership for this region,” Hackett wrote. “As many of you know, my roots are in the public schools, and I am looking forward to this work.”

Hackett began his education career in Phenix City, first as an English teacher at Central High School (1980-85) then as assistant principal at South Girard School (1985-89). He moved to Alexander City, Ala., to become principal of W.L. Radney Elementary School (1989-94). After a stint as Alexander City Middle School principal (1994-97), he returned to Phenix City to become administrative assistant for operations (1997-2000). He then was hired as superintendent of Phenix City Public Schools (2000-03), and he joined the CSU faculty in 2004.

MCSD superintendent David Lewis told the Ledger-Enquirer in a text message Thursday, “Dr. Hackett is uniquely qualified for his new role as he has experience in both PK-12 and post-secondary educational arenas. His perspective as a teacher and administrator at both levels, as well as his personal demeanor and familiarity with the community, make him an ideal fit for this position. I look forward to working with him to further develop our district’s growing partnership with Columbus State.”

Hackett has served as the university’s second-in-command for six years, including two in an interim role.

“During those six years, I have been associated with terrific leaders and colleagues who have enabled the university to move far in meeting the needs of this community and region,” Hackett wrote. “Over the last six years we have created a strategic plan that involved input from everyone who desired to participate; hired first-rate professors and leaders; developed a Quality Enhancement Plan that is truly innovative and that truly capitalizes on the ideas of faculty and staff at CSU; developed a new culture of academic advisement; made retention, progression and graduation a true priority; developed metrics to guide that work; enhanced our culture of student-centered learning; redesigned recruitment and enrollment processes; and now have begun the work of redesigning the First Year Experience for students. I am very proud of what we have done together over the last few years.”

Hackett also was CSU’s interim president for five months, between Tim Mescon’s retirement Dec. 31, 2014, and Markwood starting in the position June 1, 2015, after he was hired from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where he was provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Markwood announced in his blog on CSU’s website that Hackett’s shift in responsibility will take effect June 30.

“Tom has been struggling with this personal decision for quite some time now, and I'm extremely grateful he was able to fulfill my request to stay on as long as he possibly could,” Markwood wrote. “He has had, and still does have, my full support and confidence.”

Hackett has had a personal connection with CSU since 1970, when it was Columbus College and his father started teaching there. He is an alumnus and has served on the faculty for 12 years in roles including professor and chairman of the Department of Counseling, Leadership and Foundations and director of graduate studies for the College of Education and Health Professions.

“Dr. Hackett has been a powerful and steady force at Columbus State University, and I have relied upon him heavily since the day I was named president,” Markwood wrote. “He has been my closest adviser and his fingerprints are on just about every major accomplishment that CSU has logged over the last few years.”

Tina Butcher, CSU’s associate provost for undergraduate education, will serve as interim provost, and Patrick McHenry, associate dean for CSU’s College of Arts and Letters, will serve as interim associate provost for undergraduate education.

Hackett earned a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1997, a specialist’s degree in educational leadership from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1992, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Columbus College in 1986, a teaching certificate in English Education from Columbus College in 1979 and a bachelor’s degree in English from Columbus College in 1977.

“Please allow me to thank all of you for what you have done, and for what I know you will continue to do, for this university and community,” Hackett wrote. “I look forward to what the coming years will bring.”

This story was originally published June 16, 2016 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Columbus State’s provost moving to different position."