Provost to Step DownRoosevelt Newson to Leave Bowie StateBy Spectrum Staff After 15 months in office, Dr. Roosevelt Newson announced Nov. 13 that he is stepping down as provost and vice president of academic affairs at Bowie State University. The notification came in a brief email sent from the Office of the Provost to the university's faculty. The resignation is effective Jan. 1, 2010. "As I reflect on my 15-month tenure, I am proud of our accomplishments and also pleased to have worked with you to advance this great institution," Newson wrote. "Wishing all of you the best for a bright future at Bowie State University, I remain yours truly." In response to Newson's message, the office of Bowie State University President Mickey L. Burnim sent an email to university faculty and staff announcing that the university will soon being a nationwide search to find a replacement as soon as practicable. "Consistent with the university's established search procedures, we will convene a search and screening committee which will consist of members from all of our shared governance components," the email stated. "Transitions are always challenging, but we trust that all members of our university community will continue to focus on our mission as we pursue excellence in all that we do." Newson took over as provost and vice president of academic affairs at the 5,600-student campus on Sept. 1, 2008. In his capacity as chief academic officer, Newson oversees the university deans and program directors. He is also responsible for providing leadership in strategic planning and collaborating with the university's internal and external constituencies. Before joining the administration at Bowie State, Newson served for five years as vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of North Alabama. Prior to his tenure there, Newson was dean of the College of Fine Arts and a professor of music at Illinois State University. In addition, Newson has served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at Georgia Southern University and as an associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Bloomsburg University. He is a graduate of Southern University and holds a master's and a doctorate from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at The Johns Hopkins University. Beyond his academic career, Newson is a concert pianist who made his professional debut at Wigmore Hall in London. He has also performed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. | 
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