OU announces it’s hiring official from college in Kentucky as its new chief of staff
June 23, 2008
Ohio University President Roderick J. McDavis announced last week that the university is hiring an official from a public university in Kentucky to fill the job of chief-of-staff and special assistant to the president.
Rebecca Watts, who will start Aug. 11, currently serves as the deputy to the president at Kentucky’s Murray State University.
The role of the president requires him to be out of the office frequently, McDavis said, and his chief of staff must ensure that business continues seamlessly.
“We needed someone who could help manage the agenda of the president’s office. We have a small presidential staff, and Becky’s role will be to ensure key functions of the office continue in a forward direction whether or not I’m on site physically,” McDavis said, adding that Watts also will take on special projects as needed.
Watts has experience serving as liaison between a president and the executive staff, deans and university community, an OU release said.
Before joining Murray State, Watts was the public information officer for Illinois State Board of Education Superintendent Randy Dunn, with whom she has worked since 2004. Following the departure of his chief of staff, Dunn asked Watts to assume the role.
Three years later, when Dunn became president of Murray State University, he persuaded Watts to become his deputy to the president.
Watts holds a master’s degree in communication from the University of Illinois at Springfield, and a bachelor’s in communication from Sangamon State University, also in Springfield.
The role Watts will assume has evolved since predecessor Alan Geiger retired as assistant to the president and secretary to the board of trustees.
The time was right, McDavis and board members decided, to separate the roles. Tom Davis became interim – and later permanent - secretary to the board.
Watts will visit Athens frequently in the coming weeks to prepare for the move. Her initial goal is to listen and learn, she said.
“What I want to do first is to have my eyes and ears open to learn about the culture of the university, to determine where I can be the most effective by listening to what Dr. McDavis, the executive staff and others have to say and to determine where and how I can offer the greatest benefits,” she said.
Watts said she and her husband are eager to relocate.
“I am looking forward to becoming part of the university community, and my husband and I are excited about becoming part of the Athens community,” Watts said. “I’m happy to be a part of something bigger than one, and working together with creative ideas to keep things moving forward.”
Comments
Please log in to post a comment.
