Dean Robert Eves to Serve as Interim Provost

Published: May 06, 2019 | Author: Kenzie Lundberg | Read Time: 2 minutes

Before his retirement from Southern Utah University, Dean Robert Eves has accepted one more leadership role and will serve as SUU’s Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. As Provost Brad Cook steps down to begin his new role as President of Snow College, Eves will begin his appointment on May 4, 2019, and continue until the search for SUU’s next Provost is concluded.

From his beginnings as an assistant professor of geology to the chair of the Department of Physical Sciences to the dean of the College of Science and Engineering, Eves has served SUU for 31 years. He plans to place the capstone on his academic legacy with the position of interim provost.

“Dean Eves is a graduate of SUU and our longest serving dean,” said SUU President Scott L Wyatt. “His understanding of all aspects of the university, from the student, faculty and administrative perspectives will be a tremendous benefit to all of us as he spends his final year, prior to retirement, leading academics at the university. I am very grateful for his willingness to serve in this capacity.”

A mentor in the lives of countless students, Eves’ leadership has fostered a period of exceptional growth for COSE. Particularly in the past six years, which have seen an 83% growth in the number of freshmen and an impressive 71% retention rate for freshmen/sophomores.

“Even as a brand new faculty member, Dean Eves would weigh my input as if we had worked together for decades,” said Casey Webb, former student and now lecturer of geology at SUU. “He seems to have the keen ability to instantly see the immediate consequences of any decision being made. Dean Eves’ ability to make informed decisions about the college has allowed the COSE to prosper during his tenure.”

During his time as dean, SUU dedicated the L.S. and Aline W. Skaggs Center for Health and Molecular Sciences in the fall of 2011 and will see the completion of the new home of the geosciences program, the Mark and Julie Svoboda Geosciences Building on May 2.

“SUU’s enrollment reached 10,000 last year, and a goal has been set to enroll 15,000 students by 2025. This kind of rapid growth comes with significant challenges,” said Eves. “Despite the challenges, I, personally, am honored to be here at this time in the history of a great school.”

An SUU alumnus, Eves earned a bachelor degree in physical science from then Southern Utah State College. He earned both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in geology and geochemistry from Washington State University.

A national search is currently underway to hire a replacement dean for the WMG COSE and a provost.

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