Reinisch moves to faculty in Spring
Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) announced the replacement of Dr. Lou Reinisch as provost of the university on Oct. 11.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Jaya Goswami will serve as interim provost. The university hopes to name a finalist for provost by next summer.
Reinisch started as provost for the university in the Fall 2020 with plans to focus on the entire student experience on campus.
“We are grateful to Dr. Reinisch for his leadership. He will transition to faculty in the Department of Physics and Geosciences in the spring,” President of TAMUK Dr. Robert Vela said.
The university was unable to comment further on why Reinisch was replaced as it is a personnel matter.
“Dr. Goswami is an outstanding leader who has more than two decades of experience serving our university. Through her roles as faculty and administrator, Dr. Goswami has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to student-centric service and prioritizing student success, while ensuring stellar, innovative academic programing. She is well-respected by her peers and was the natural choice to serve as interim provost,” Vela said.
Goswami has been with the university since 2001.
“With Dr. Goswami leading in this role, the impact to faculty and the university as a whole should be minimal. Our mission remains the same—ensuring that our students graduate and go on to successful lives,” he said.
Reinisch took the position while the university was facing the COVID-19 pandemic, and had goals to improve the university’s four-year graduation rate to 50 percent, and aspired to provide an education students could feel comfortable with.
“Provost is an incredibly important role for any campus,” Director of Marketing and Communication Adriana Garza-Flores said.
TAMUK’s Provost oversees the seven colleges on campus including the Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture Natural Resources and Human Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the College of Education and Human Performance, the Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering and the Honors College, she said.
“In addition, the provost oversees the Center for Student Success, the Jernigan Library, the Office of Research and Graduate Studies and the Center for Academic Technology,” Garza-Flores said.
The university is set to begin a search for Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs as soon as possible.
“Academic Affairs is the largest division on campus. This position provides vital support in developing and implementing the institution’s strategic priorities,” Garza-Flores said.
