Source: Ruth Dyer, 785-532-4797, rdyer@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-532-6415, kmayes@k-state.edu
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
RUTH DYER TO SERVE AS K-STATE'S INTERIM PROVOST
MANHATTAN -- Ruth Dyer will serve as Kansas State University's interim provost.
Dyer, who is currently K-State's associate provost, will assume her new duties June 15.
"I am thrilled that Ruth Dyer has accepted the position as interim provost," said Kirk Schulz, K-State's incoming president. "Ruth is highly qualified, an excellent leader, and has extensive experience with dealing with budgets in these difficult economic times. This background will be extremely helpful in the coming months.
"As part of the terms of her interim appointment, Dr. Dyer will not be a candidate for the permanent post of provost and senior vice president," Schulz said.
Schulz and Jon Wefald, who is retiring as K-State president, appointed a committee earlier this spring to select an interim provost after M. Duane Nellis was named president of the University of Idaho. Charles Reagan, associate to the president, chaired the internal search.
As a K-State associate provost since 2004, Dyer has overseen K-State's offices of planning and analysis, assessment and summer school. She also coordinates the university's mentoring program for women and minorities in the sciences and engineering, and coordinates academic initiatives with the Kansas Board of Regents. Before being promoted to associate provost, Dyer served as assistant provost from 2000-2004.
In addition, Dyer is a professor in K-State's department of electrical and computer engineering. She was promoted to full professor in 1997.
As an investigator for universitywide research projects, Dyer has been involved in numerous ongoing grants and proposals for engagement and outreach that have totaled almost $5 million. Since 2000, she also has managed the expansion and maintenance of K-State's many technology classrooms.
Dyer earned her doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Kentucky in 1980. Her bachelor's and master's degrees in biochemistry are from K-State. She joined K-State in 1983.
She is a Fellow of the IEEE, formerly known as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and has been a member since 1986. The grade of Fellow recognizes unusual distinction in the profession and is conferred by the IEEE board of directors upon senior members who have demonstrated an extraordinary record of accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest.
Dyer also was one of seven individuals from across the nation to be named a Fellow of the Association of Women in Sciences in 2006. She has been honored several times for her excellence in teaching and received K-State's Entrepreneurship Support Award this year.
The provost is the chief academic officer of K-State, a member of the executive administration and a member of the president's cabinet. The provost serves as a representative of the president and in place of the president during his absence. The provost develops university policy in close consultation with the president's cabinet, the Council of Deans and the Faculty Senate leadership group.
The search for a permanent provost and senior vice president is under way and is being led by John English, dean of K-State's College of Engineering.
