DANBURY, CONN. — Dr. Missy Alexander has been appointed interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at Western Connecticut State University.

President Dr. John Clark promoted Alexander from her position as dean of the Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences, which she has held since July 2012. The previous WCSU provost, Dr. Jane McBride Gates, was recently named provost/senior vice president of Academic and Student Affairs for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, the system that oversees Western, three other state universities, 12 community colleges and Charter Oak State College.

“I am honored to be selected for this role and look forward to being part of WCSU’s leadership team as we continue to develop innovative programs and deepen our connections with the greater Danbury community,” Alexander said. The provost and academic vice president serves as second-in-command at the university and supervises all academic programs.

As dean, Alexander managed Western’s largest school with 13 departments, 18 undergraduate majors and five graduate majors.

“Dr. Alexander is a decisive leader who brings extensive experience and an impressive record of success to her new position as interim provost,” Clark said, adding that Alexander’s tenure as dean resulted in stronger ties to the region, which increased student internships and community involvement.

Before joining Western, Alexander was the assistant dean of the school of communications and the arts at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. She holds a Ph.D. in Media Ecology from New York University as well as a master’s in Communication and bachelor’s in Anthropology from Hunter College.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.