UCF provost placed on leave while school reviews concerns
UCF Provost Elizabeth Dooley has been placed on paid administrative while the university reviews unspecified concerns about her, Interim President Thad Seymour announced Friday.
Seymour described the decision as a “leadership update” in a message posted to the University of Central Florida’s website.
“Earlier today, I placed Provost Elizabeth Dooley on paid administrative leave,” Seymour wrote. “She agreed this decision allows her to temporarily step away while we work to fully understand concerns that have been raised, and I appreciate her commitment to cooperate.”
Dooley, 62, wasn’t immediately available for comment.
Seymour’s statement didn’t elaborate on the nature of his concerns, but the decision came after a Twitter user with the name “University of Corruption and Fraud” posted several messages about Dooley, including screenshots of text messages she reportedly sent to others.
“I am calling on the resignation or removal of Provost Elizabeth Dooley,” the Twitter user wrote on Jan. 7. “Resign and save more public scrutiny and embarrassment.”
A university spokesman didn’t respond to questions about whether the decision to place Dooley on leave was related to the accusations posted on Twitter.
Dooley, who started her career as a public school teacher, has worked at UCF since 2015. She previously served as vice provost for teaching and learning and the dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies. She was tapped to serve as provost at UCF in 2018 after her predecessor, Dale Whittaker, became president of the university.
She’s the first African American and first woman in the school’s 50-year history to serve as provost, an academic-centered position. She reports directly to Seymour.
During Dooley’s leave, Jana Jasinski, vice provost for Faculty Excellence, will serve as acting provost, Seymour said in the statement.