Gary Miller, Biola’s provost, has submitted his resignation effective June 30, 2009, according to an announcement today from President Barry Corey.

No specific reason was named, but the resignation will be a major transition for the school, especially since Miller has served in senior administration for the past 13 years.

As provost, Miller is in charge of the university’s academic programs. During his 10 years in that role, he has hired more than half of the school’s current faculty and overseen the opening of several new programs and schools within Biola.

“This past decade for Biola University has been one of extraordinary growth
and strength,” Corey wrote in an e-mail to faculty, “and during this time, Dr. Miller has provided leadership in many areas and arenas of higher education.”

During his tenure, Miller oversaw the development of the M.B.A. degree, the Institute for Spiritual Formation, the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership degree, the School of Education and extension sites for graduate programs opened in New York, Ukraine, Lithuania and Thailand. He also led the school in establishing the Office of Diversity Leadership, which seeks to recruit faculty from diverse backgrounds.

Miller’s role had been largely restructured within the past year as Corey created a President’s Administrative Council. Under former President Clyde Cook’s leadership, the provost, as senior vice president, and three other vice presidents formed senior leadership.

As that team expanded to a seven-member body under Corey, Miller’s oversight of student development was handed to Chris Grace, vice president for student development and university planning. Miller’s role became focused solely on administrating Biola’s academic programs.

In his provost role, Miller chaired the re-accreditation steering committee and worked to make accreditation visits at other schools with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Corey said he will work with the Council of Instructional Deans and other campus representatives to begin the search for the next provost. In the mean time, he will be appointing an interim provost.