Interim provost named at Temple University

By Dara McBride, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Posted: June 29, 2012

The dean of Temple University's College of Science and Technology was named interim provost of the university effective July 1 during Temple's Board of Trustees meeting Thursday.

Hai-Lung Dai, a graduate of National Taiwan University and University of California at Berkeley, joined Temple's staff in 2007. In addition to serving as dean, Dai is a Laura H. Carnell Professor of Chemistry and the senior vice provost for International Affairs.

Dai will be replacing Richard Englert, who is leaving the provost position to serve as Temple's acting president, also effective July 1. Englert is replacing Ann Weaver Hart, who will become the president of the University of Arizona.

Dai said he was first contacted regarding the interim provost position this month.

As interim provost, Dai said he hopes to help lead Temple through what is currently a challenging time given the growing student body, now at nearly 40,000, concerns over student debt and problems facing higher education nationally, such as students being unprepared academically following high school graduation.

"We want to continue on the road of achieving the excellence we pride ourselves on being able to provide," Dai said.

A provost will be appointed following the selection of a new president. The search for Temple's next president is ongoing and the university hopes to find someone soon, said Temple spokesman Ray Betzner. When asked if he would be pursing the provost position permanently, Dai said he would be "very happy to hand the baton over" to whomever the new president selects as provost.

Contact Dara McBride at 215-854-4904 or dmcbride@philly.com

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