Alumni Spotlight
Dean Robert Easter Named Interim Provost/Chancellor
The Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Robert A. Easter as Interim Provost/Chancellor for the Urbana campus effective immediately. He will continue to hold these positions until a permanent chancellor and provost are named and have assumed their responsibilities, following a national search.
As Interim Provost/Chancellor, Bob will lead the Urbana campus and fulfill the duties of chancellor. As interim provost, he serves as the chief academic and budgetary officer for the campus and the deans and directors of academic units report to him. Bob was named interim provost and associate chancellor by the trustees in July.
Bob has a long history at the University having served as dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences from 2002-09. He was head of the animal sciences department from 1996-2001. An award- winning teacher and researcher, he has been a member of the Urbana faculty since 1976.
He co-authored a book on swine production and has written more than 90 peer-reviewed articles, 11 book chapters, four monographs and numerous papers for conferences and industry publications. In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed him to the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD), and in 2007 he was appointed as chair of BIFAD.
Congratulations Dr. Robert Easter!