From Provost LeBel: Graduate School Academic Leadership

Dr. Joseph Benoit will be completing ten years of service as Dean of the UND Graduate School at the end of this month. While Dr. Benoit served as Dean, the number and quality of graduate programs increased, as did graduate enrollment. His acceptance of the presidency of Mount Marty College is an exciting opportunity for him and a loss to us.

Dr. Wayne Swisher, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, has agreed to serve as Interim Dean through June 30, 2012. Dr. Swisher has served as Associate Dean for five years. Among his other contributions, Dr. Swisher has had primary responsibility for the graduate program reviews. His extensive experience as a faculty member and an administrator ensures that the school will be in good hands.

Rather than begin planning for a dean search during the summer, I would like to convene a meeting of the Graduate Faculty and a meeting of the Graduate Committee soon after the beginning of the new academic year. Date, time, and location of those meetings will be provided as soon as they have been determined.

— Paul LeBel, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.