As the university continues its search to replace Provost and Senior Vice President Jamshed Bharucha, faculty members learned yesterday that Vice Provost Peggy Newell will hold his position in the interim beginning July 1.
Newell does not wish to be considered for the permanent position, University President Lawrence Bacow and incoming University President Anthony Monaco said in an internal e-mail to faculty and staff members informing them of the change.
Bharucha last month announced that he would step down at the end of the academic year to become president of The Cooper Union in New York City. He is one of a number of top administrators who plan to leave Tufts this year. Associate Provost Vincent Manno last month announced that he would leave Medford in July to become the provost and dean of the faculty of the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering.
Bacow and Monaco in the e-mail also announced the formation of a search committee to find a permanent replacement for Bharucha. Headed by Vali Nasr, a professor of international politics at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, the committee consists of administrators and faculty members from across the university and will collaborate with the executive search firm Isaacson Miller.
"The search committee will be asked to move ahead expeditiously, and it might be possible to have a new provost in place at the beginning of the spring 2012 term," Director of Public Relations Kim Thurler said in an e-mail to the Daily.
Bacow and Monaco expressed confidence in Newell's past leadership and her familiarity with research at Tufts.
"She is well-known, admired and respected on all three campuses as someone who deeply understands and respects the work of our students and faculty," their e-mail said. "We are confident that she will keep the office running smoothly until we have a permanent successor to Jamshed in place."
In the short term, Professor of Mathematics Misha Kilmer will serve as a special adviser to Newell and Monaco on academic appointments and will lessen the burden on the office as the two adapt to their positions. Kilmer will give advice on issues like tenure and promotion decisions, Bacow and Monaco's e-mail said.
