1 July 2022
Dear Oregon State Colleagues,
As announced on May 17, Dean of Science Dr. Roy Haggerty will begin his appointment as executive vice president and provost at Louisiana State University on Aug. 1. His last day on campus will be Friday, July 8, and his appointment at OSU will end on July 31. During this period, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Vrushali Bokil will serve as acting dean of the College of Science.
Following a period of engagement with College of Science faculty and staff, and meetings with nominees for the interim dean post, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Bokil will serve as interim dean, effective on Aug. 1 and until a new dean begins their appointment.
Professor Bokil has been at OSU for 16 years, joining Oregon State as an assistant professor of mathematics in 2006. She served as Associate Head of the Department of Mathematics and, since 2020, as Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. She was an ADVANCE Faculty Fellow, received the inaugural College of Science Inclusive Excellence Award, and chaired the college’s Diversity, Equity, Justice, and Inclusion Working Group. The latter led to the development of the college’s 2021-24 Diversity Action Plan. Professor Bokil also chairs the college’s Strategic Planning Committee. This past academic year, she participated as a Fellow in the Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES) program at Drexel University.
Dr. Bokil earned her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Houston and was a postdoctoral research associate at North Carolina State University before joining OSU’s faculty. Her expertise is in computational and applied mathematics, numerical analysis, and mathematical biology.
Dean of Engineering Scott Ashford will chair the search advisory committee for the dean search. Your nominations for the dean position are encouraged. Email Gigi Bruce, chief assistant to the provost, with pertinent information. I will provide search updates in the coming weeks and months.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Bokil on her appointment as interim dean and wishing Dr. Haggerty well in his new role.
Sincerely,
Edward Feser
Provost and Executive Vice President