Univ. of Alabama president names interim provost

University of Alabama President Dr. Judy Bonner has named longtime UA faculty member Dr. Joe Benson as interim provost.

Bonner previously served in that position and Benson has served as vice provost and vice president for research since 2009.

"Dr. Benson is a respected member of the faculty and an academic leader," Bonner said in a press release. "He has been the president of the UA Faculty Senate, chair of the department of geology, and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, in addition to his current position."

Bonner will announce search committees for the provost and vice president of research positions in the next few weeks. Benson will continue to serve as VP of research as well as provost until his planned retirement next summer.

Benson joined the UA faculty in 1978 as an assistant professor of geology. Since that time, he has served as associate professor, professor, chair of the department of geological sciences from 1990-1998, and as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1998-2001.

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