He said his planned departure is not related to the outcome of that search. Ward came to Mississippi State in 1977 as a founding member of the College of Veterinary Medicine faculty. He was dean of the college 1983-87. Hodgson has headed the university's academic programs since August 1994. A tenured professor of chemistry, he said recently that he expects to return to classroom teaching and research at the university, but also is considering other options.
National searches are under way for all three positions.
Searches also are being conducted for deans of the College of Business and Industry, the Meridian Campus, and the Division of Continuing Education. Binkley Mark S. Binkley, who directs the broadcast meteorology program in the Geosciences Department, was recognized for his work in operational meteorology and related fields. Binkley, who also heads the MSU Climatology Laboratory, specifically was recognized for four major achievements. The nonprofit NWA is headquartered in Montgomery, Ala., and has grown to more than 2,500 members worldwide since its inception in 1975. Binkley has served on the Mississippi State faculty since 1986 and as assistant to the department head since 1991.