Secretary of faculties appointed

Manushag Powell
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Jay Akridge, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity, has announced the appointment of Manushag Powell, director of graduate studies and professor of English in the College of Liberal Arts, to the position of secretary of faculties, University Senate, effective July 1.

Powell joined the Department of English in the fall of 2007, coming to Purdue from a visiting assistant professor position at the College of the Holy Cross. She earned her PhD (2006) and MA (2003) in English from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her BA in English from Yale University in 1999.

Powell succeeds Joseph W. Camp, professor of veterinary parasitology, who has served as secretary of faculties for more than 16 years and is retiring.

The secretary of faculties serves in a half-time administrative/advisory role reporting to the provost. As chief information officer for the University Senate, the secretary of faculties maintains its records and responds to queries for information and also serves as the Senate parliamentarian.

“We will certainly miss Dr. Camp’s experience, guidance and collegiality in this important role,” Akridge said. “But we are also excited for the energy and new ideas that Dr. Powell will bring to the position.”

Powell will work with Camp over the course of the semester to learn more about the specific responsibilities and to ensure a smooth transition.

Camp joined the faculty at (then) Purdue University North Central in 1985 as an assistant professor of biological sciences. He was promoted to associate professor in 1990 and full professor in 1999. Camp came to the West Lafayette campus in 2003.

Akridge also commended the work of the search committee.

“It’s never an easy task to select one individual out of a number of impressive and committed applicants,” he said. “I’m very grateful for the thoughtful and thorough work of the search committee.”

Members of the search committee were: 

• Deborah Nichols, chair, associate professor of human development and family studies and University Senate vice chair.
• Peter Hollenbeck, vice provost for faculty affairs.
• Natalie Carroll, professor of agricultural sciences education and communication and University Senate immediate past chair.
• Linda Prokopy, professor of natural resources social science and chair, University Senate Faculty Affairs Committee.
• Randy Rapp, associate professor of construction management technology and chair, University Senate Resources Policy Committee.