Northern Michigan University has appointed a new acting provost, Lesley Larkin.
Larkin is a current English department faculty member and also will act as chief academic officer in the role. She will take over the duties until the university completes a national search to replace the late Paul Lang.
Larkin has been on the faculty since 2008 and specializes in literary theory, African-American literature and American literature. She has a bachelor's degree from Linfield College, and both a master's degree and a doctorate from the University of Washington. She has served on NMU administrative committees in the past, including as chair of the president's committee on diversity and as co-chair of the provost search committee.
Lang, who passed away Jan. 9, had been on an extended medical leave and had previously announced he would step down from the position at the end of the academic year, so a search was already under way for a replacement. The interim appointment was made, says NMU president Fritz Erickson, in the best interests of the school.
"The appointment is needed now for many reasons, but most importantly for continuing in the forward movement of the university's strategic planning and core values development," Erickson says in the announcement.
Writer: Kim Eggleston
Source: Northern Michigan University
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