UTSA Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs C. Mauli Agrawal was selected as Chancellor of the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), effective June 20, 2018.
The Provost reports directly to the President and is the chief academic officer who offers UTSA guidance and leadership. Agrawal’s announcement occurred before the UTSA Provost Search Committee made a decision.
During Agrawal’s 15 years with UTSA he led and supported engineering, research and academic enterprise. He began his career at UTSA as a professor and associate dean for research in the College of Engineering and advanced to dean in 2006. In 2014, he was named vice president for research. In 2016, he was appointed interim provost.
UTSA President Taylor Eighmy expressed gratitude for Agrawal’s impact and leadership at UTSA.
“We expect that he will do a wonderful job in his new role and wish him the absolute best.” Eighmy said.
In an interview with the Paisano, Eighmy commented on the adjustments UTSA will make before Agrawal leaves.
“In my world these kind of changes happen all the time. People come, people go. If you plan correctly you can put interim people in place that works, but we launched our provost search back in November and we expect to have a new provost in place before he departs so we will be fine there.” Eighmy said.
Agrawal called his time at UTSA an “incredible journey” and said though he and his wife Sue will miss UTSA he is excited for his next adventure at UMKC.
Agrawal was one of 24 candidates reviewed by the UMKC search team. From among three finalists, University of Missouri System President Mun Choi chose Agrawal.
“I’m confident that the university will reach new heights of success in research, education and outreach through his leadership.” Choi said.
As chancellor Agrawal will be paid a $400,000 a year base salary and a one-time moving cost of up to $20,000. He also will receive a $15,000-a-year housing allowance and a $15,000-a-year auto allowance.
UMKC staff and leadership echoed an interest in Agrawal’s ability to understand the role higher education institutions play in economic development.
“It is good for institutions to send off there people to go do other big things because that says a lot about UTSA and Mauli,” Eighmy said. “It’s also good to bring in new blood to bring a fresh perspective to the outside, so there’s good in change.”
