The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

ACES dean named interim provost

Robert Easter, former dean of ACES, has been named interim provost for the University, according to an e-mail sent by Chancellor Richard Herman on Monday morning.

Easter will replace Linda Katehi, who was named chancellor at the University of California-Davis about a month ago.

Easter’s appointment is now pending approval by the Board of Trustees. If approved, Easter will assume his position effective on August 17. The e-mail said Easter and Katehi will work together to “assure a smooth transition.”

Easter said his previous eight years of experience as dean of a large college with a sizeable budget makes him a good candidate for the position.

Easter has served as the dean of ACES since July 2002. Before that, he was interim dean of the college from August 2001 until July 2002. Easter was the head of the Department of Animal Sciences from 1996 until 2001.

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“Dean Easter is an exceptional leader, highly respected among the faculty and peers across campus, the nation and around the world,” Herman said in the e-mail. “He’s a long-serving dean whom I had the pleasure to appoint, and he has led the College of ACES with great skill, managing a variety of internal and external constituencies.”

Easter com his undergraduate studies at Texas A&M;, where he received a degree in agricultural education. He also obtained a master’s degree in animal nutrition from Texas A&M; before completing his doctorate work in animal science at the University in 1976. He then joined the University’s faculty in the animal science department upon graduation.

“I’ve been on this campus for a long time,” Easter said. “I have a sense of the activities that go on across campus.”

Easter’s work has been recognized nation-wide. President George W. Bush appointed Easter to the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development in 2006, and two years later Easter was named chairman of the board.

“A university like ours is dynamic. As we progress there will be thing that need to happen and need to change,” he said.

Easter said he plans to continue moving forward with the initiatives already in place. He said he does not intend to apply to be the permanent provost, however.

University spokeswoman Robin Kaler said the University hopes to have completed its search for a permanent provost by January 2010.

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