Kerry S. Grant, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and a respected music historian and a nationally known administrator, has been named vice provost for academic affairs and dean of the Graduate School, effective March 1.

His appointment was announced by Provost Elizabeth D. Capaldi.

	Grant

Grant came to UB in 1991 as dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters. In 1998, that academic unit was merged with the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the Faculty of Social Sciences to form the College of Arts and Sciences.

As vice provost, Grant will be responsible for all curricular matters related to undergraduate and graduate programs and administering the Graduate School.

The new position merges the duties of two positions: vice provost for undergraduate education and dean of the Graduate School. Nicolas Goodman, former vice provost for undergraduate education, has returned to the mathematics faculty, while David Triggle, dean of the graduate school, will return to the faculty of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

"Dean Grant is uniquely qualified for the position. He has extensive experience with both undergraduate and graduate education, strong academic values and is well-known for his emphasis on the importance of students. I am delighted that we will benefit from his leadership in academic matters," said Capaldi.

The appointment of an interim dean of CAS is expected to be announced soon.

As dean of Arts and Sciences, Grant oversees 31 departments and a variety of interdisciplinary centers and research institutes, as well as the academic careers of more than 10,000 undergraduates and 1,700 graduate students.

Among his administrative accomplishments were integrating the staffs and functions of the three former faculties that made up the college into a single administrative structure supportive of teaching, research and service in the college, and the creation of faculty governance mechanisms associated with the appointment, promotion and tenure processes.

As dean of arts and letters, Grant was responsible for increases in research support; the expansion of language offerings, including the development of an Asian-language program; support for an international center for Polish studies, and the development and expansion of Korean studies. He also made significant advances in diversifying the faculty, bringing 13 outstanding minority scholars to the faculty in two years.

He participates in a SUNY-wide review of undergraduate general education.

In addition to service on numerous university and professional boards, he has served as a member and chair of the Erie County Cultural Resources Advisory Board, a member of the Arts Council of Buffalo and Erie County Board of Directors and a member of Cultural Leadership Group and Leadership Buffalo.

He is the author or editor of three books. His current book, "The Rainbow City," celebrates the centennial of the Pan American Exposition. He is a frequent speaker to local organizations and presenter at national meetings of higher-education associations. He holds a doctorate from the University of California-Berkeley.