Kansas University has chosen someone to temporarily fill the role of Sara Rosen when she becomes interim provost Jan. 1.

Also beginning Jan. 1, acting senior vice provost for academic affairs will be Stuart Day, associate professor of Spanish and director of Faculty Programs in KU’s Office of International Programs, KU announced.

Day, who’s been at KU since 2005, served as chair of the Spanish and Portuguese department from 2010 to 2015 and has held a number of leadership roles within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the university, according to KU. His main area of teaching and research is contemporary Latin American literature, with a focus on theater in Mexico.

KU Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Jeff Vitter’s last day at KU is Dec. 31. He is leaving to become chancellor of the University of Mississippi.

KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little has said hiring a new provost could take six to nine months.