Last month brought a change of leadership to Colorado State University with the resignation of President Larry Edward Penley. The Colorado State University System Board of Governors has appointed Dr. Tony Frank to lead CSU as Interim President.
The Board expects to start a discussion about a presidential search in early 2009. This will take time, noted Douglas L. Jones, Chair, in a message from the Board of Governors, “as we have a dynamic university that continues to grow in areas of strategic importance, and we must be thoughtful and inclusive as we search for a new leader. We welcome the comments and insights of donors and friends of CSU as we undertake this process, and we will do our best to keep you informed as we move forward.”
Dr. Frank joined Colorado State in 1993 as an Assistant Professor of Pathology and was promoted to head of that department in 1996. He was appointed Associate Dean for Research for the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 1998 before being named Vice President for Research and Information Technology in 2000. Dr. Frank was named Senior Vice President in June 2004, and then accepted the position of Provost in 2005.
Dr. Lance Perryman, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, is Acting Provost until a search is completed to appoint an Interim Provost in mid-December. Dr. Perryman is heading the selection committee for the Interim Provost. Dr. Pete Hellyer, Associate Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, is Acting Dean of the College while Dr. Perryman assists in the transition to the new Interim Provost.
Colorado State University's Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory is the lead institution of a $12.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation's Mathematics and Science Partnership program to create a dynamic teacher development program targeted at middle school and high school teachers in the STEM disciplines - science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Researchers will create a framework where environmental science literacy drives learning of core science and mathematics concepts. The program has the potential to reach 1,000 teachers and 500,000 students in the country.
The collaborative, CSU-led program spearheaded by Dr. John Moore, Director of CSU's Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, will connect the environmental sciences research and education of partner universities and sites within the NSF-funded Long-Term Ecological Research, or LTER, network with K-12 science and math teachers in partner schools and districts. The focus will be on human-ecosystem interactions to develop culturally relevant ecology from scientific and educational perspectives.
"Dr. Moore must be commended for his efforts to secure this STEM award. Workforce preparation in the STEM disciplines is an area where CSU is well-positioned to make an important impact on the educational pipeline of students heading to college," said Colorado State Interim President Tony Frank. "CSU's focus in engineering, environmental sustainability research, and new energy research provides us the opportunity to offer leadership as we prepare for future workforce needs."
Core partners on the NSF-funded grant are Greeley-Evans School District No. 6; Poudre School District; Michigan State University; Plainwell Community Schools; University of California, Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara School District; Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies; Towson University; Baltimore City and County Public Schools; University of Northern Colorado; University of Wyoming; and the LTER Network Office at the University of New Mexico.
