Professor begins short term as interim provost
July 2, 1998 by RUSS HENDERSON
Filed under Undefined Section
University Professor of higher education and history Thomas Dyer began his short term as interim provost Wednesday. The appointment of Dyer, announced by University President Michael Adams Monday, bridges the gap between the departure of retiring Vice President for Academic Affairs William Prokasy on June 30 and the arrival of newly-appointed provost Karen Holbrook on Sept. 1.
Stepping into the position was relatively easy, Dyer said in an interview, and stepping out of it in September will be a pleasure. "Dr. Prokasy left things in excellent order," he said, "and I very much look forward to working with Dr. Holbrook."
The position of provost was created by Adams as part of a reorganization of the University’s administrative system. The provost will oversee all core academic functions including instruction, student affairs, research and public service and outreach. And Adams says Dyer will do the job well until Holbrook’s arrival.
"I have great confidence in Tom Dyer’s ability to keep this ship on course through this interim period of eight or nine weeks," Adams said.
Dyer, who has been at the University since 1975, served as vice president for student affairs from 1984-86, as senior associate vice president from 1986-88 and was associate vice president for services from 1989-94. He directed planning for the University’s bicentennial observance in 1985 and is author of The University of Georgia: A Bicentennial History, 1785-1985.
Holbrook was announced June 22 as provost, pending approval by the Board of Regents. She was selected by a University committee, chaired by University Librarian William Gray Potter, after a nationwide search to fill the position. No one from the University was a finalist in the selection.
"We didn’t even consider what University the candidates came from," Potter said. "We were just looking for the best person for the job."
Asked what he thought his experience as interim provost will be like, Dyer said, "Brief."
