[B]URLINGTON — The University of Vermont announced Monday that Patricia Prelock, the dean of the UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences, has been appointed interim provost and senior vice president.
Prelock’s appointment was effective April 15, and she will serve in the position during a time of transition at the university. The university’s next president, Suresh Garimella, starts July 1.
Prelock replaces David Rosowsky, who stepped down this spring after six years as provost, the highest-ranking academic position at the university. Rosowsky said he wanted to give Garimella the ability to form his own leadership team at UVM.
Before accepting the interim provost position, Prelock had been the College of Nursing and Health Sciences dean for 10 years, and had also been a department chair and professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
“I am most looking forward to engaging with faculty to facilitate curricular and research innovations, with staff to enhance processes that support our academic mission and with students to ensure a high quality academic experience,” Prelock said in a statement released by the university.
Garimella, who is currently the executive vice president for research and partnerships at Purdue University, had a role in the decision to hire Prelock, the statement said.
“Both President-Designate Garimella and I believe Dean Prelock brings skills, experience and knowledge that will enable her as Provost to support and strengthen our colleges and academic programs, and continue to elevate the university as a whole,” outgoing president Tom Sullivan said in an email to the college community.
Scott Thomas, the dean of the College of Education and Social Services, will continue in that role and serve as the interim dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences when Prelock is interim provost.
There’s no specified time period that Prelock will hold the position, UVM spokesman Enrique Corredera told VTDigger via email.
“It’s an interim appointment that will enable Dr. Suresh Garimella to take some time to immerse himself at UVM, consult broadly across the University, and determine the optimal timing for following up with a permanent appointment,” Corredera said.
