From Staff Reports
Dec. 23, 2015: 10:15 a.m.

Dr. Marilyn Abbott, the interim provost of Lindenwood University since spring 2015, has been selected for the job permanently; she is the new provost and vice president for academic affairs at Lindenwood’s St. Charles campus.

In a press release sent out to staff and faculty Wednesday, President Michael Shonrock said search firm Witt/Kieffer and the university’s campus search advisory committee vetted a pool of candidates for the position. He said Witt/Kiefer had reviewed 70 candidates, and the field had been narrowed to six before the final selection.

Abbott has been employed at Lindenwood for 18 years, serving in a variety of academic roles as dean of sciences, associate provost and interim provost. She has 10 years of corporate experience in research and development with Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. She earned her doctorate in biological sciences from Purdue University, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Indiana University.

“Marilyn has great passion and significant experience,” said Shonrock. “She has demonstrated effective leadership as interim provost, and she will be a very effective advocate and voice for
our faculty and our students.”

Shonrock said Abbott’s academic leadership has created momentum in many areas across campus, from the new campus master plan to development of Lindenwood’s new brand and the institution’s Like No Other leadership development program.

Abbott will assume her new role on Jan. 1.