As Birmingham-Southern College waits on a lifeline from the Alabama Legislature, two new hires are gearing up to lead the school’s academic programs.

Laura Stultz and Kent Andersen, who both held interim leadership positions in the college’s academic affairs department, were recently appointed to permanent roles, officials announced Monday.

Stultz will serve as the college’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. Anderson is now the associate provost.

“Dr. Stultz and Dr. Andersen have consistently demonstrated their dedication to our students, faculty, and staff,” BSC President Daniel Coleman said in a news release. “Their vision aligns perfectly with BSC’s commitment to providing a transformative educational experience.”

The appointments come amid uncertainty over the future of the private, liberal arts college.

Officials announced the extent of the school’s financial woes in 2022, saying it would need at least $30 million from the legislature to keep its doors open. Now lawmakers, for a second time, are working against the clock keep the college afloat.

In June 2023, the Alabama Legislature created the Distressed Institutions of Higher Education Loan Revolving Program, which would allow qualifying colleges to apply for up to $30 million in state funds.

But the state treasurer, Young Boozer III, denied Birmingham-Southern’s application last fall, claiming it did not meet the qualifications established by the law, including adequate collateral and a financial plan that showed it would be able to repay the debt.

Now a revised loan bill, SB31, could give the college another chance.

If passed, SB31 would replace Boozer as administrator of the loan program with Jim Purcell, the executive director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. The bill would make other changes to the loan program that appear to make it more likely for Birmingham-Southern to receive a loan.

Officials told AL.com last week that the school plans to submit a loan if the new program is approved. Active fundraising is on hold, they said, until a state loan is awarded, but the school is accepting pledge payments in the meantime.

“BSC’s trustees, alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends have worked tirelessly over the past year to ensure that the College can continue to serve the state of Alabama and can continue to be a choice for students seeking a small, residential, rigorous, and highly personalized college education,” spokeswoman Virginia Loftin wrote in a statement.

Stultz served as interim associate provost in 2022 and stepped in as interim provost in 2023. Officials praised her for her leadership abilities, which they said “underscores her dedication to student success, commitment to research, and passion for academic excellence.”

Stultz has been a member of BSC faculty since 1997 and has taught courses in general and inorganic chemistry. She holds an undergraduate degree from Oberlin College and completed her Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Andersen joined the college in 1999 and has taught courses in writing and leadership. For nearly a decade, he led the college’s Krulak Institute, which houses programs focused on leadership and community engagement.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, a master’s degree in literature from American University, and an Ed.D. in higher education leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University.