Greg Simpson, professor and chairman of the psychology department at Kansas University, has been named as the interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, effective July 1.

Dean Joseph Steinmetz appointed Simpson to the post. Steinmetz will serve as interim provost following the departure of Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Richard Lariviere, who is leaving to become the president of the University of Oregon.

Simpson said he looked forward to doing everything he could to better the college during his tenure.

“It’s somewhat daunting, especially in the current economic climate,” he said. “That presents some specific challenges all of its own.”

He said he’d focus on ensuring continuity in the face of many top personnel changes, and would seek to ensure a smooth entry of the college’s new School of Arts as part of a reorganization of KU’s existing School of Fine Arts.

Simpson has served in the past as the college’s acting associate dean of social sciences in 2005-06, and has been chairman of the psychology department at KU since 1999.

Ruth Ann Atchley, associate professor of psychology, will serve as interim chair of the department during the same period.

All the positions retain their interim status pending the decisions of a new chancellor. Chancellor Robert Hemenway has announced his intention to step down from the position effective July 1.