Tennessee Tech President Phil Oldham said Dr. Mickey LaTour is the right hire at the right time for the provost position.
The national search ended Tuesday with LaTour’s selection. Three finalists visited campus. Oldham said LaTour’s selection based on a career history that spans both major research institutions and smaller regional campuses. The incoming provost previously served as the Dean of Agriculture at Arkansas State University and spent significant time at Purdue University and Southern Illinois.
“The experience and the background is pretty conducive, I think, to what we are here at Tennessee Tech, what our identity is, and where we’re headed in the future,” Oldham said. “And Mickey brings a lot of that with him. I think he’s the right person at the right time. I’m a big believer in timing, and I think although there were a lot of good candidates in this pool, I think Mickey represented the right person for the situation at hand.”
Oldham said LaTour has a history of growing both traditional and online academic offerings. The new provost also played an instrumental role in initiating a new School of Veterinary Medicine during his tenure at Arkansas State.
“So, there’s a lot of experience there that he could draw on to help us with our opportunities here at Tech,” Oldham said. “But, you know, I think he has proven himself to be a leader, somebody who can communicate effectively. And regardless of the discipline somebody’s from, that can translate well.”
The university utilized an external search firm to maintain the pace of the hiring process, which began in the fall. Research remains a major focus for the campus community, and Oldham said LaTour brings an emphasis on applied research that provides a public benefit.
“I think to be a successful university that we aspire to be, research has to play a major role in that overall effort,” Oldham said. “It’s sort of the stamp of approval that you’re really who you say you are and you’re demonstrating that not just in how well you teach, but the new knowledge that you help create as well.”
LaTour will officially begin his new role on campus on July 1.