HOLLAND (WHTC) — Hope College’s chief academic officer, Richard Ray, has stepped down from his position as provost, according to school officials.
The move was made at the request of Hope College President John Knapp, Hope’s Vice President for Public Affairs and Marketing Jennifer Fellinger told WHTC.
Ray’s predecessor and Provost Emeritus, Jim Boelkins, will fill in for the remainder of this semester. Hope President John Knapp announced the move in an email to college staff on Monday.
Ray, appointed to the provost role in 2010 by then-Hope President James E. Bultman, has been with Hope since 1982. Contacted by phone on Monday afternoon, Ray referred all media inquiries back to college officials.
Ray served as the college’s head athletic trainer and developed an academic program in athletic training, according to Hope record.
He served as Hope’s Department of Kinesiology chairman from 2003 until his appointment as dean for the social sciences in 2008.
Knapp’s email indicated Ray could return to teaching in the summer of 2017.
Here is the full text of President Knapp’s email:
Dear Hope Community:
I am writing to share that today is Dr. Rich Ray’s last day as chief academic officer of Hope College.
Earlier this year, I requested of Dr. Ray that he step down as provost in 2017, as it is my belief that new and different leadership is needed for Hope’s academic program. Many discussions have taken place since my original request, with the outcome being Dr. Ray’s departure, effective this morning.
Provost Emeritus Dr. Jim Boelkins has graciously agreed to serve the remainder of the spring semester as acting provost, working closely with the Deans’ Council. Dr. Boelkins served as Hope’s provost from 2002 until his retirement in 2010. I will issue a campus communication in the near future regarding next steps for a transition plan for a new provost.
As a professor of kinesiology, Dr. Ray will remain a member of the Hope College faculty. Starting today, he will be taking a much-deserved yearlong leave of absence. He will return to Hope College and to the classroom on July 1, 2017.
Dr. Ray has served as provost since 2010. Prior to that, he was the dean for the social sciences for two years and chair of the Kinesiology Department for five years. I am grateful to him for his service to Hope College, especially his efforts to help develop our ten-year strategic plan.
Sincerely,
John
John C. Knapp, Ph.D.
President and Professor
Hope College
