Harrisburg – The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) today appointed Dr. William F. Williams interim president of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, effective February 11.

Dr. Williams, who has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Slippery Rock since 2003, will serve as interim president until a new, permanent president is hired. A search committee appointed by the university’s Council of Trustees is currently reviewing potential candidates. The Board of Governors will make the final selection.

“Dr. Williams has been an integral part of Slippery Rock University’s administrative and leadership teams for many years,” said Board of Governors Chairman Guido Pichini, “Not only is he familiar with the institution, but he also has performed in several key roles at the System level. That experience will be invaluable as he guides the university during this period of transition.”

Dr. Robert M. Smith, who has served as president of Slippery Rock University since May 2004, plans to retire next month.

Dr. Williams joined the faculty at Slippery Rock in 1981, when he was hired as an instructor in the English Department. He rose through the faculty ranks before being promoted to professor in 1993. He chaired the English Department from 1996 to 2003, and also served as president of the SRU chapter of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) from 1994 to 2003, when he was named interim provost.

He came to Slippery Rock from West Virginia Northern Community College, where he had begun his academic career as an instructor and assistant professor of English. He previously was an adjunct faculty member at Youngstown State University and a teaching fellow at Kent State University.

Dr. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in literature from Youngstown State and a Ph.D. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). He also completed doctoral course work at Kent State.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, with nearly 120,000 students. The 14 PASSHE universities offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. About 500,000 PASSHE alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.