The Tennessee Tech Board of Trustees unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Mickey Latour as the university’s new Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs during a special virtual meeting Wednesday.
Tennessee Tech President Dr. Phil Oldham said Latour is a Louisiana native with a background in agriculture who previously served as the Dean of Agriculture at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. The new provost also brings leadership experience from Arkansas State University and spent the bulk of his career at Purdue University. Latour came up through the tenure and promotion process as a rank-and-file faculty member at a highly competitive institution.
“I am humbled to have this opportunity and, you know, when I looked at Tennessee Tech and the kind of great things that were going on, the foundation that has been built and the momentum that is there, I just believe that there can be tremendous synergy between the groups and to do some exciting things,” Latour said.
Oldham presented the recommendation to the board following an extensive national search to fill the vacancy. The university evaluated several strong candidates before identifying the ideal fit to lead the academic direction of the institution over the coming years.
“Probably what sold me the most was when we, when Mickey and I sat and talked and I could really feel the passion in his voice and what he, what he saw as potential here at Tennessee Tech,” Oldham said. “And I think overall the fit, the ability to communicate, all that came together and I think he’s the right person.”
Oldham said the board also approved the appointment of Dr. Katie Aikens as the new Vice President of Student Affairs during the same meeting. Aikens has worked at the university for twenty years in various capacities and was selected after a separate national search.
“And, you know, I haven’t had a chance to meet Katie and so many other people that I would be working with, but I’m confident that we can continue to build upon the excellence that’s already there and take it to a whole new level,” Latour said.
Oldham said Latour brings the best options for the university going forward based on his holistic experience at peer institutions. The administration evaluated several good candidates in the pool before making the final selection.
“So I’ve already had meetings with John Smith and others, so I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running in and making each of you very proud of what we can accomplish,” Latour said.
Latour will officially assume his new role at the university on July 1.
