Chancellor Kent Syverud has appointed John Liu, vice president for research, as Syracuse University’s interim vice chancellor and provost. 

The appointment follows the university’s Nov. 4 announcement that current Provost Michele Wheatly will step down in January to take on the role of special adviser to the chancellor. Liu’s appointment as interim provost will begin on Jan. 6, according to a Monday SU News release. 

Liu has been at SU since 2017, when he left Auburn University. As vice president, Liu has overseen the Office of Research and currently serves on the university’s leadership team. 

“Syracuse University is poised to become a world-class university with unsurpassed student experience and top tier research,” Liu said in the release. “I am honored that the Chancellor has asked me to serve in the interim provost role during this transition.”

As special adviser, Wheatly will lead women’s leadership initiatives on campus. She has served as provost since 2016. 

Syverud also appointed Ramesh Raina, Department of Biology chair, as interim vice president for research. Raina helped to launch the university’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement and is co-director of the biotechnology major, according to the release. He was chair of the University Senate Agenda Committee from 2017 to 2019.

“Syracuse University has made significant strides advancing its global research portfolio across all academic disciplines over the last several years,” Raina said in the release. “Never before have I seen such excitement and momentum in all facets of research, scholarship and creative activity.”

Syverud will work with university stakeholders to create a search committee for a permanent replacement for Wheatly in the spring semester.

Published on November 11, 2019 at 6:16 pm

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