Joseph Steinmetz
Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway on Monday named the dean of KU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as its interim provost.
Joseph Steinmetz has served as the dean of KU’s largest academic unit since 2006.
He will work with Provost Richard Lariviere, who Steinmetz said will retain his title until the provost leaves. Both Lariviere and Hemenway are expected to leave their posts on the same day this summer.
Lariviere is expected to be confirmed as president of the University of Oregon later this week, and Hemenway has announced he intends to step down from the chancellor’s post effective June 30.
Steinmetz said working on a smooth transition will be his top priority.
He said he is working to get up to speed on what is going on throughout the university. He said he anticipates continuing work on financial matters in a difficult time, as well as other policies, including an attempt to revamp admissions standards.
Steinmetz came to KU from Indiana University, where he was executive associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences and chairman of the psychology department. He maintains a neuroscience research lab at KU.
Hemenway praised Steinmetz as an experienced, highly-regarded leader.
“During the remaining months of this academic year, Joe will work closely not only with the leadership team in the provost’s office but also with me,” Hemenway said in a statement.
Steinmetz said that while he is interested in academic administration, he didn’t know if he would want the full-time provost position at KU. He said that because it’s still unknown who the next chancellor would be, and because a provost reports to the chancellor, he couldn’t say if the position would appeal to him.
“I really want to help the institution make the transition at this point, so that’s where I’m focusing,” he said.
The next chancellor will have other decisions to make, including determining a search process for a new provost and what to do about the dean of liberal arts position.
Until that time, Steinmetz will continue indefinitely as dean in addition to his new role, said Lynn Bretz, a KU spokeswoman.
“I just want to make sure that I give the attention that both of the positions deserve and need,” Steinmetz said.
He said that by working in a college that enrolls nearly 17,000 students and has 53 departments, he was used to existing in a rather large-scale environment.
“It just got larger,” he said.
Comments
MyName 5 years ago
Well yeah, assuming that number that you pulled out of thin(?) air actually has any basis in reality... Oh wait, never mind! It just means it's time for the people running the Internets to check their tubes again.
Bunny_Hotcakes 5 years ago
I'm thinking lawrenceguy40 is pretty rude to not bring enough of the goofballs for everyone to have some.
Phillbert 5 years ago
Lawrenceguy40's source is completely off the mark.
MY source at KU says that they are preparing for 99% layoffs and are going to turn Allen Fieldhouse into some sort of Thunderdome.
nobody1793 5 years ago
My source at KU says that we're leaving the Big 12 and joining the Big East.
I think Steinmetz will do a fine job with what he has to work with.
Jayson Hawk 5 years ago
Didn't Lariviere bring in Steinmetz when he fired Diana Carlin who was the dean on CLAS?
guesswho 5 years ago
Kim Wilcox was the dean of the college before Steinmetz; I believe Steinmetz and Lariviere came in at the same time. Carlin was dean of the Graduate School and International Programs.
Jayson Hawk 5 years ago
Thanks for setting me straight on that, guesswho. I know Lariviere brought someone in to replace Carlin, I'm not sure who.
Godot 5 years ago
"Kansas is in a mess. The Governor is giving up, at KU the Chancellor is jumping ship and now the Provost. They know things you don't!"
They got their guy in the whitehouse, now they are moving up in the world.
RoeDapple 5 years ago
A friend of mine has an aunt whose neighbors son has a gifted teacher that met Oprah's therapist and he said that K.U. ............... ah, never mind........
KU_cynic 5 years ago
Steinmetz seems to be a good guy, but he's relatively new to KU and has a big job being dean of the College. Turning to him as an interim provost suggests 1) he's the leading candidate to become provost -- that's not a bad thing, and 2) the various assistant-executive-vice- provosts and chancellorettes sitting on the bench are just not suited to lead -- which is a real indictment of leadership development strategies at KU.
Luxor 5 years ago
The dean's office staff has become huge and bloated under Steinmetz. Top-heavy and not a good sign.
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