OXFORD, Miss. – Carolyn Ellis Staton, provost and vice
chancellor for academic affairs at the University of
Mississippi since 1999, is stepping down at the end of the
year.
Staton informed Chancellor Robert Khayat of her desire to
retire effective June 30, 2008 and asked to transition out
of the position beginning in January.
“Accordingly, I have asked Morris Stocks to assume
responsibilities as the interim provost beginning January 1
and have asked Dr. Staton to provide a support role for him
and for us,” Khayat said. “The entire university community
is indebted to Carolyn for her many years of faithful
service to the University both as a member of the law
school faculty and an administrator.”
Stocks, former dean of the School of Accountancy, served
three years as associate provost. He has served as senior
vice chancellor for planning and operations since August
2006.
Staton joined the faculty in the School of Law in 1977 and
later served as interim dean of the Law Center. Previously,
she was in private law practice in New York and was an
assistant U.S. attorney in the District of New Jersey. In
1994, she became interim associate vice chancellor for
academic affairs, and two years later was named associate
provost. Staton was a Fulbright Fellow at the University of
Frankfort and the University of Munich.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University, a
master’s from Columbia University and a juris doctorate
from the Yale Law School.