2008 Woodie Awards
New interim provost selected
Lindsey Pruitt
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: News
An interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs has been named by Chancellor John A. White and Chancellor-elect G. David Gearhart, according to a Thursday press release.
Robert C. McMath, dean of the UA Honors College and professor of history, was chosen for the interim position to succeed Bob Smith, who will step down as provost June 30.
A national search is being conducted to find a permanent provost, according to the press release.
"I am very interested in the shared academic experience of students and faculty across the entire campus, and when Chancellor-elect Gearhart asked me to take on this assignment and help with an important administrative transition, I was happy to do so," McMath said.
"Bob McMath has the acumen and versatility that make him a perfect fit for this role," Gearhart said, according to the press release. "He has performed superbly in building our Honors College from the ground up, and his broad career experience in academic affairs and student services certainly make him more than capable of serving as our chief academic officer during this interim period."
McMath thinks he is qualified to act as the interim provost, he said.
"As dean of the Honors College for the past two and a half years, I have had the opportunity to work with professors and students from all across the campus and with Provost Smith and the deans of all the colleges, so I think I have a pretty good grasp of the global issues facing the university," McMath said.
Before joining the UA, McMath served as vice provost at Georgia Tech University for nine years and served as department chair and associate dean, he said.
McMath also taught and conducted research at Georgia Tech from 1972 to 2005, except for a year when he served as Fulbright Senior Lecturer in Italy, he said.
"I am fortunate to have had very good mentors in academic leadership along the way, including Tech's former provost, Jean-Lou Chameau, who is now president of [the California Institute of Technology]," McMath said.
Robert C. McMath, dean of the UA Honors College and professor of history, was chosen for the interim position to succeed Bob Smith, who will step down as provost June 30.
A national search is being conducted to find a permanent provost, according to the press release.
"I am very interested in the shared academic experience of students and faculty across the entire campus, and when Chancellor-elect Gearhart asked me to take on this assignment and help with an important administrative transition, I was happy to do so," McMath said.
"Bob McMath has the acumen and versatility that make him a perfect fit for this role," Gearhart said, according to the press release. "He has performed superbly in building our Honors College from the ground up, and his broad career experience in academic affairs and student services certainly make him more than capable of serving as our chief academic officer during this interim period."
McMath thinks he is qualified to act as the interim provost, he said.
"As dean of the Honors College for the past two and a half years, I have had the opportunity to work with professors and students from all across the campus and with Provost Smith and the deans of all the colleges, so I think I have a pretty good grasp of the global issues facing the university," McMath said.
Before joining the UA, McMath served as vice provost at Georgia Tech University for nine years and served as department chair and associate dean, he said.
McMath also taught and conducted research at Georgia Tech from 1972 to 2005, except for a year when he served as Fulbright Senior Lecturer in Italy, he said.
"I am fortunate to have had very good mentors in academic leadership along the way, including Tech's former provost, Jean-Lou Chameau, who is now president of [the California Institute of Technology]," McMath said.
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