ARTICLES CONCERNING
RUSSELL H. WILLIS, FORMER DIRECTOR HUMAN RESOURCES, FORMER INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT BUSINESS AND FINANCE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS

For more articles and editorials concerning Mr. Willis, please click here.

(February 11, 2011) . . breaking news . . . In-House ‘Up and Comer’ Named Permanent VP HATTIESBURG – According to Beth Taylor’s 11-Feb-2011 USM presser, USM’s director of human resources and interim chief financial officer, Russ Willis, has been named vice president of administrative affairs at USM, pending IHL approval. Willis, pictured below, has, according to Taylor, been serving as USM’s interim VPAA since August of 2010.

(February 15, 2011) . . . breaking news . . . Confirmation of Willis’ New Title Not Playing Well HATTIESBURG – The recent announcement that USM human resources director/interim CFO Russ Willis has been named, pending IHL approval, USM’s new permanent vice president for administrative affairs is not going over so well among the greater USM community. From comments on the USM Forum – Message Board to letters to USMNEWS.net, followers of events at USM are noting that the Martha Saunders administration has perhaps “pulled one over” on its constituents by discreetly amending Willis’ title and responsibilities at USM. In a recent e-mail to the “Southern Miss Community,” Saunders also seems to be attempting to revise history, by stating that Willis has been serving as “vice president” since August of 2010.

(February 16, 2011) 31st & Pearl Academic Cannibalism 101 How many faculty lines must be “cannibalized” so that 25 USM psychology professors can each get a $3,000 salary bump? Thankfully, for USM students at least, the answer is only one, provided, of course, that the line has an administrative stipend attached to it.

(February 21, 2011) Special Report Any Way You Slice It Russ Willis’ New Title and Salary Contributing to Malaise at USM When (in May-2010) USM chief financial officer Joe Morgan announced his impending resignation, the USM community was shocked. There were no signs indicating that such a move was coming.

January 25, 2012) . . . breaking news . . . Willis Out, Driskell In . . . Even Deeper HATTIESBURG – USM vice president for administrative affairs Russ Willis communicated with USM faculty and staff (via e-mail) late on 23-Jan-2012 (4:23 pm) about his recent decision to leave the VPAA position for another in the USM Foundation.

(February 9, 2012) Rest for the Weary A Closer Look at Russ Willis’ Resignation as Vice President for Administrative Affairs A Guest Column from C. Anna Hall The ink on Russ Willis’ Jan-2012 resignation as vice president for administrative affairs at USM is still drying, and was on 27-Jan-2012 when USM faculty senate president Timothy Rehner addressed the matter to open the senate’s monthly meeting. Rehner stated:

(February 10, 2012) Dear usmnews.net, I don't know why Russ Willis stepped down from a high level administrative job [Vice President for Administrative Affairs], but I'd be surprised if it was overwork as suggested during a recent Faculty Senate meeting.