Adams State VP academic affairs resigns

ADAMS State over the weekend announced the resignation of Vice President for Academic Affairs Kent Buchanan, Ph.D., and named Margaret Doell to serve in an acting role.

The vice president for academic affairs is the chief academic officer of the university, serving to oversee the academic departments and supervise the chairs of the academic study areas.

Adams State has had several academic vice presidents come and go over in the past decade, some as a result of the changing of presidents. The president of the university and vice president for academic affairs form an undeniable partnership and together have the greatest impact on how a university performs academically and financially.

Buchanan was the third permanent vice president for academic affairs hired by Adams State since 2016; the school has had others serve in an interim capacity. He replaced Joaquin Vila, who was hired in 2018 and now serves as a faculty member in the Adams State School of Education.

When Cheryl Lovell became president, she replaced Vila with Buchanan in March of 2020.

Under President Beverlee McClure, who served before Lovell, the vice president for academic affairs was Chris Gilmer. He was hired in 2016 and followed Frank Novotny in the position. Novotny was in the vice president chair when Adams State was placed on probation for two years in 2016 by the Higher Learning Commission. Gilmer left the university in 2017 following a dispute with McClure.

Doell has been an applicant for the position and now will serve in an acting role, according to the university.