The University has appointed Maurice Apprey, a professor of psychiatric medicine and the School of Medicine's former dean of diversity, as the interim dean of the Office of African-American Affairs. The appointment was announced by Pat Lampkin, vice president for student affairs, on July 31, one week after the retirement of embattled former Dean M. Rick Turner, who had held the job for 18 years.
Turner, 65, announced his retirement shortly after the University suspended him after he entered into a pretrial diversion agreement with federal prosecutors, acknowledging that he misrepresented his knowledge of the activities of a "known drug dealer." In his first interview with The Cavalier Daily since news of his suspension surfaced, Turner said he enjoyed his tenure at the University.
"My 18 years was a wonderful 18 years. I think the Office of African American Affairs is in wonderful shape because we have a foundation of excellence," Turner said.
Apprey said that his main goal as interim dean will be to stabilize the office.
"[I aim] to provide the continuity that the situation at the moment requires, and to maintain and expand upon the good things that have been done already," Apprey said.
Apprey added that he will maintain Turner's focus on diversity.
"Diversity is the first and most important goal," he said. "[We want] to maintain the excellence that's there and not radically change anything, at least for now."
Lampkin said she considered four factors while selecting the interim dean, including a good knowledge of the University and its history, support of University students and parents, strong academic credentials and an understanding of the Charlottesville community.
"I really want to move through this time and keeping the continuity going," she said. "The most important thing is not to disrupt the services to our students."
Apprey began his career at the University in 1980. In addition to his role as a psychiatry professor, he established the federally funded Medical Academic Advancement Programs at the University, which seeks to provide student academic support and professional counseling to medical and pre-medical students. Since then, the University Medical School has had 100 percent retention of minority and disadvantaged students for 13 years, as well as a significant increase in the number of minority students in entering classes.
Apprey will dedicate 20 percent of his time at the medical center in the Division of Outpatient Psychiatry and the Division of Child and Family Psychiatry while working as interim dean.
Turner said he enthusiastically supported the appointment of Apprey, who he described as "a dear friend."
"I was so happy to read that Dr. Apprey took that position," Turner said. "I think that he [should] not only be the interim, but I think he should really be highly considered to be the new dean. I think students and parents will love him. I think he will be a major factor of the continued success of the Office of African-American Affairs."
Turner also stated that he has no doubts that Apprey will press forward with the Office of African-American Affair's mission to promote diversity at the University.
"I think the major thing is that he'll be a major voice for African-American students in the community and at the University," he said. "I think students will love him and respect him because he's smart, focused, and he's a lover of people. The University is very fortunate to have him."
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