Abbott alters job after VP resigns

President James Abbott is reconfiguring some of the University of South Dakota’s administration positions after the recent resignation of the vice president of Marketing, Enrollment and Student Services.

Jeff Baylor submitted his resignation letter Jan. 21 after joining the university in 2008, Abbott said. Baylor’s resignation was a “personnel matter,” and Abbott declined to comment on the reasons leading to the vice president’s departure.

The Volante was not able to reach Baylor by phone or email for comment.

In his absence, Abbott said the university will be seeking a vice president of Enrollment, Marketing and University Relations. Dean of Students Kim Grieve’s position will be elevated to the newly-created vice president of Student Services.

“I have long felt that because students are the reason (the university) exists, Student Services should report directly to the president,” Abbott said.

There is no one currently filling in at an interim position for Baylor, but Abbott said Grieve, Director of Communications and Media Relations Tena Haraldson and Dean of Enrollment Mark Petty are all handling work overseen by Baylor. Each is directly reporting to Abbott.

The university is also working with a separate consulting firm to fill the vacant position, Haraldson said.

Williams and Company Consulting, Inc., a separate firm from the one searching for USD’s next provost, was hired because Abbot said it has “significant experience in enrollment and student services.”