New Provost Set to Lead Columbus State University‘s Academic Programs
Columbus State University welcomes Dr. Shannon B. Campbell as its new provost, executive vice president and chief academic officer. Dr. Campbell, currently serving as dean of fine and applied arts at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, is slated to begin her tenure on January 21, 2025.
She will assume responsibility for leading the university’s academic enterprise, overseeing an extensive budget of $54.7 million and a dedicated team of more than 450 faculty and staff. Her purview encompasses numerous student success and academic support programs, academic colleges and deans, research initiatives, outreach programs, faculty development centers, and related administrative units.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Campbell to Columbus State at such an exciting time,” remarked President Stuart Rayfield. “Her impressive background, particularly in developing innovative academic programs and stackable credentials, will be instrumental in our ongoing efforts to reshape our students’ educational experience. Our goal is to become a destination of choice where students can excel, grow as individuals, and launch successful careers after graduation.”
A key driver of this educational transformation will be the re-alignment of the core curriculum, which includes general education courses like English, mathematics, science, and social studies, to closely align with the career competencies valued by employers. This strategy not only strengthens the University System of Georgia’s system-wide focus on equipping graduates with essential skills in communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and conflict resolution, but also ensures graduates are well-equipped for success in their chosen fields.
This move aims to improve post-graduate employability and bolster the state’s workforce.
Dr. Campbell will provide leadership in the execution of the university’s robust five-year strategic plan, launched earlier this year. This plan prioritizes increasing student retention rates to 85% from fall to fall and elevating undergraduate graduation rates to 60% by 2030. Other key initiatives include establishing a comprehensive student success infrastructure, enhancing advisement services, and fostering stronger connections between declared majors and career pathways.
About Dr. Campbell
Dr. Campbell boasts nearly three decades of experience in higher education, encompassing tenure-track faculty appointments and leadership roles at the departmental, college and university level. Since June 2021, she has led Appalachian State’s College of Fine and Applied Arts, overseeing a college with over 3,500 students, 475 employees and a $49 million budget across seven academic departments.
Dedicated to public relations, communication, and integrated marketing, Dr. Campbell brings extensive corporate and consulting experience to her teaching and research. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication management from Missouri State University, a master’s degree in organizational communication from
the University of Southern Illinois, and a doctorate in marketing communication and media studies from the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Campbell explained her excitement, stating, “I’m most excited about joining the leadership team at Columbus State University because of the close alignment between the university’s stated mission, vision and values and my own.” She expressed further enthusiasm, noting,
What specific examples can Dr. Campbell point to from her experience at Appalachian State University that demonstrate her success in fostering a cohesive and innovative academic experience for students?
## New Horizons for Academic Excellence at Columbus State
**Interviewer:** Welcome to the show. Today we’re discussing exciting news for Columbus State University: the appointment of Dr. Shannon Campbell as Provost, Executive Vice President, and Chief Academic Officer. Dr. Campbell, welcome to the program.
**Dr. Campbell:** Thank you for having me. I’m thrilled to join the Columbus State University community.
**Interviewer:** Wonderful! You’re coming from Appalachian State University, where you served as Dean of fine and applied arts. Can you tell us a bit about your vision for academic leadership at Columbus State?
**Dr. Campbell:** Absolutely.
In my experience, fostering a cohesive and innovative academic experience for students is crucial. Here at Columbus State, I’m especially excited about the university’s commitment to aligning the core curriculum with career competencies valued by employers [[n/a](https://news.columbusstate.edu/posts/csu-welcomes-a-new-provost) ].
This forward-thinking approach equips graduates not just with knowledge, but with the essential skills they need to thrive in today’s workforce, ultimately shaping successful careers.
**Interviewer:** That’s an inspiring vision! President Rayfield mentioned your background in developing innovative academic programs. Can you give us any sneak peeks into some initiatives you might be bringing to Columbus State?
**Dr. Campbell:** While it’s still early, I’m eager to collaborate with faculty, staff and students.
My focus will be on building upon Columbus State’s strengths, exploring new opportunities in emerging fields, and ensuring our students
have access to the most relevant and engaging learning experiences possible.
**Interviewer:** Fantastic. We’re certainly excited to see what you bring to the table. Dr. Campbell, thank you so much for joining us and for sharing your insights.
**Dr. Campbell:** Thank you. It was a pleasure.
