野狼社区 University has appointed Dr. Helen Gaudin as its next interim provost, beginning July 1.
Gaudin has been the associate dean of the Petree College of Arts and Sciences since 2016 and has been a biology professor for OCU since 2005. She earned her Ph.D. in microbiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Among her many accomplishments at OCU are an Honors Program Distinguished Professor award in 2010 and a Priddy Foundation Fellowship Award in 2008.
鈥淚 look forward to working with Dr. Gaudin in continuing our tradition of academic excellence,鈥 said President-designate Dr. Kenneth Evans, who also begins his new role on July 1. 鈥淗er track record as associate dean for Arts and Sciences portends that we鈥檒l be in good hands with her leadership campus-wide.鈥
Gaudin will succeed Dr. George Sims, who was appointed to the interim position in July 2019.
鈥淲e are extremely grateful for Dr. Sims鈥 services these past two years,鈥 said President Martha Burger. 鈥淗e went above and beyond our expectations, guiding our academic programs through a pandemic and other challenges faced by higher education overall. His expertise was exactly what we needed and we appreciate his exceptional work.鈥
A search will begin this fall for a permanent provost.