University of New Mexico Provost Chaouki Abdallah announced two major leadership updates in Academic Affairs. The first involves the search for a vice president for Research for Academic Affairs, now renamed vice provost for Research.

“I have heard from many faculty members and administrators of the good job and positive changes that Dr. Michael Dougher has started in the Office of Research," Abdallah said. "I received overwhelming and positive feedback from all the major constituency groups to the idea of delaying the VPR search for one year. This allows me to focus on hiring deans for the colleges of education, business and libraries. I am therefore suspending the search for VPR for the current academic year.” 

A national search for a new vice provost for Research will commence in the fall of 2014.

Carol Parker
Carol Parker

The second update is related to the position Dougher will vacate – senior vice provost for Academic Affairs. Abdallah has named Associate Provost for Academic Personnel and Law Professor Carol Parker as interim senior vice provost for Academic Affairs. Parker’s portfolio will continue to include oversight of academic personnel issues, but will expand to full time status and overseeing the major financial and planning functions of Academic Affairs.

An internal search to fill this position will commence in the summer of 2014 to be filled by August 2014.

Questions can be directed to Melissa Vargas, chief of staff, Office of the Provost, at mlvargas@unm.edu.