5/20/98
Contact: Carol Blum, Ohio University, (740) 593-0371

ATHENS, Ohio -- Carol Blum, associate vice president for research and graduate studies, has been appointed to a second one-year term as the interim vice president of that division by President Robert Glidden. Blum has been serving as interim vice president since Aug. 1.

Her re-appointment follows an unsuccessful search for a vice president according to Glidden, who spoke to members of the Faculty Senate Monday evening.

"The search committee couldn't reach consensus on the top candidate for the position," Glidden said. "We are very happy with Carol Blum's leadership over the last year and felt it was better to continue in this vein for the next year."

Blum was appointed interim vice president a year ago following the resignation of T. Lloyd Chesnut, who accepted a new position at the University of Montana.

Blum received a Ph.D. in history from the University of Cincinnati. Before becoming assistant vice president for research and graduate studies at Ohio University in 1991, Blum was director of graduate and special programs at the Ohio Board of Regents.

"I have appreciated the support and assistance of the faculty, students and staff of Ohio University and hope that they will continue working with me as we move the research and graduate studies agendas forward next year," Blum said.

Blum said the agenda for the coming year includes continuing the development of a university-wide strategy for strengthening graduate instruction and the research infrastructure for faculty, students and staff.

"We want to ensure that the university's graduate programs are of the highest quality, recruit a diverse graduate student body that can succeed at Ohio University and prepare those students for a variety of future career paths," she said. "I believe we can achieve that agenda with the commitment of the faculty.

"The Council for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity is designing a number of innovative strategies to support the university's scholarly mission and I look forward to working with the council next year in implementing these new approaches for enhancing the research environment," Blum said.

Provost Sharon Brehm will be working with Gary Small, professor of chemistry and chair of the search committee, to develop plans for the resumption of the search next year.