October 6, 2021

Dear colleagues,

I am writing to provide an update on two critical academic leadership searches that were interrupted by the pandemic but will be re-launched this fall: one for the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the other for the vice president for research and innovation.

When Bruce Blonigen initially agreed to serve as interim CAS dean in 2018, we had planned to launch a search for a permanent replacement in 2019. Bruce graciously agreed to serve an extra year, but then the pandemic caused us to hold back the search until the university and college were on more stable footing. As we return to in-person activities this fall, we will relaunch the search for a permanent dean to the university’s largest academic unit.

I am deeply grateful to Bruce for serving with distinction as interim dean of CAS since 2019. He stepped into this role just as we were preparing to open Tykeson Hall, a groundbreaking facility focused on the successful collaboration of academic and career advisors, advisors and faculty members, and students. He has provided leadership and direction to the university’s largest college through the launch of several multi-year initiatives, the shift to remote learning, and other operational challenges brought on by COVID-19. He has been an important advocate for the future of CAS and a thoughtful partner in working together to leave the college in a position of strength and stability. Bruce plans to return to teaching and research in the Economics department in the fall of 2022.

Similarly, in the Spring of 2020 the search for a permanent VPRI was paused as a result of the pandemic and Cass Moseley was appointed interim vice president for research and innovation. That search will also be restarted in the coming weeks.

I also thank Cass, who has provided critical leadership for research and innovation during her tenure as interim VP. She facilitated the maintenance of critical projects and infrastructure during the early phase of the pandemic and the phased scale-up of research activities as conditions permitted. She also played a key role in the launch of the Monitoring and Assessment Program to provide COVID-19 testing for the UO and surrounding community. Cass has very ably led the division with integrity and ongoing success and has provided invaluable guidance and direction to the university as a whole during the pandemic.

We will be finalizing the search committees over the next few weeks and engaging with an executive search firm to fill both of these critical positions.

Details on the searches will be posted on the provost’s website when they are available.

If you have any questions about these searches, please reach out to me via otp@uoregon.edu.

Best wishes,

Patrick Phillips
Provost and Senior Vice President