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Dunning appoints Provost for Albany State University

From the website of Albany State University

 ALBANY, Ga. – Albany State University President Art Dunning announced the appointment of Tau Kadhi as provost and vice president for academic affairs for Albany State University, today. The appointment is effective Nov. 1 and follows a national search.

Kadhi has 20 years of leadership experience in higher education, a decade of service in three branches of the U.S. military and five college degrees in mathematics, education, and business. He is currently the associate provost for academic programs and undergraduate research at North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C., which has an enrollment of just over 8,000 students. 

“Dr. Kadhi is the right person, with the right expertise and leadership skills to lead the new Albany State University,” Dunning said. “I am delighted that he is joining our senior leadership team, and I am grateful to the search committee and the search firm for exercising due diligence in vetting nearly 100 candidates for this vital position.”

Kadhi has served as assistant vice president for learning assessment in academic affairs at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, executive director and campus dean at Texas Southern University’s Northwest Campus in Houston and director of the university scholars program at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas.

“I consider it both an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to serve the students of the new Albany State University and our other stakeholders,” Kadhi said. “I look forward to joining the outstanding team of administrators, faculty and staff in collective efforts to move the university forward.”

Kadhi has expertise in assessment, various aspects of institutional effectiveness, managing large budgets, curriculum development, developing new academic programs and working collaboratively with faculty and senior administrators to enhance learning outcomes for students. He is a data-driven strategic planner who is familiar with all aspects of an academic affairs unit.

Kadhi, who has numerous professional affiliations, holds a Ph.D. in mathematics curriculum and instruction from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He has two master’s degrees in mathematics curriculum and instruction and applied mathematics and a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from Prairie View and a master’s degree in business administration from Texas Southern.

Dunning thanked Olufunke Fontenot who has been serving as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs since July 1. He also acknowledged the search committee, comprised of representatives from Albany State University and Darton State College, and Myers McRae Executive Search Firm who conducted the search resulting in more than 91 applicants showing interest in the position. That pool was narrowed to 31 applicants vetted by the search committee. Ten candidates participated in Skype interviews and three candidates visited Albany for meetings, tours and campus forums.

Alicia Jackson, dean of the ASU College of Business, chaired the search committee. Committee members included Walter Bowers, associate professor, ASU Criminal Justice Department; Rani George, professor, ASU Criminal Justice Department; Larecia Gill, assistant professor, DSC Nursing Department; Chantel Johnson, president, DSC Student Government Association ; Linda Noble, vice chancellor, University System of Georgia Academic Affairs; Maya Palmer, president, ASU Student Government Association; Elizabeth Perkins, dean, DSC College of Humanities & Social Science; Jeremiah Pitts, associate professor, DSC English for Speakers of Other Languages ; and Jianchuan Zhou, associate professor, ASU Mass Communication Department.