AUSTIN, Texas—Professor Neal Armstrong, associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin since 1996, has been appointed vice provost for faculty affairs at the university.
Armstrong, the Zarrow Centennial Professor in Engineering, will begin his new duties on Jan. 1, 2004.
“Neal is one of the most widely respected colleagues on campus,” said Dr. Sheldon Ekland-Olson, provost at The University of Texas at Austin. “His appointment brings great strength to the Provost’s Office, especially in his ability to work creatively with faculty across campus. I am delighted he will be joining our efforts.”
Ekland-Olson said the objective in creating the new vice provost position is to make The University of Texas at Austin known as a welcoming, supportive, informative and responsive work environment.
As vice provost for faculty affairs, Armstrong will work with each of the university’s colleges to design a set of coordinated programs to enhance faculty life on campus. He will take primary responsibility for setting hiring priorities and will work with the vice provost for graduate studies to develop a new system for allocating faculty research assignments and summer research assignments. Armstrong also will work with all colleges and schools to develop a campus-wide program for assessing academic programs to establish a set of benchmarks for excellence.
“Helping to make the university an even better place for faculty will be both challenging and rewarding, and, though the decision to leave the dean’s office in the College of Engineering was a difficult one, I could not pass up the opportunity to work with Sheldon and the wonderful people in the Provost’s Office,” said Armstrong.
Armstrong received his bachelor’s degree in zoology in 1962, master’s degree in zoology in 1965 and doctor’s degree in engineering in 1968, all from The University of Texas at Austin. He began his teaching career in 1971 as an associate professor in civil engineering and was promoted to professor in civil engineering in 1979. He was appointed as associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Engineering in 1996 and previously had served for seven years as associate chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering.
For more information contact: Sheldon Ekland-Olson, Office of the Provost, 512-232-3300, or Robert D. Meckel, Office of Public Affairs, 512-475-7847.
