DENVER –– The Adams State University Board of Trustees removed “interim” from the title and named Cheryl D. Lovell president of Adams State on Thursday. The trustees also formed a negotiating team to work out an employment contract.

After asking for input from the campus and community on the performance of Dr. Lovell in her initial six months at Adams State, Board Chairman Cleave Simpson recommended to the trustees that the interim title be removed.

“From across the board there was tremendous support for Dr. Lovell, with some caution and optimism of what the next steps look like,” Simpson said.

“Thank you for your confidence,” President Lovell told the trustees. “As a campus, we are moving in the right direction.”

In other action, the board approved Adams State’s outdoor education and stewardship degree program, which will begin in Fall 2019. The program will be part of the Biology Department because of its emphasis on land stewardship and conservation.

“We are excited to offer the new degree in outdoor education and stewardship. Adams State has had a long history of connecting people to outdoor recreation going back all the way to Professor Luther Bean in the 1920s,” said Adams State instructor Curt Howell, who will lead the program. “This new degree aligns with the state’s emphasis and efforts to promote stewardship in addition to outdoor recreation. We believe this degree will attract students interested in working in outdoor-related careers, including outfitting, guiding, and environmental education.”

Adams State also is planning to add a food studies degree program beginning in the fall, and has other new degree programs and certificates under evaluation.