David Holger Appointed to New Post in Provost's Office

AMES, Iowa - David Holger, associate dean for academic programs and budget in the College of Engineering at Iowa State University, has been appointed associate provost for academic programs and dean of the Graduate College. The three-year appointment, announced today by Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Benjamin Allen, is effective July 1.

"Because of the significant demands of this new position, we are very pleased that Dr. Holger has agreed to serve," Allen said. "We need a faculty member with his breadth and depth of experience. He has served the university in a number of capacities, including department chair, associate dean of Engineering and president of the faculty senate."

The new position is one outcome of a reorganization within the provost unit to reduce administrative costs in the face of ongoing budget cuts. It merges responsibilities held by vice provost for undergraduate programs Howard Shapiro and Graduate College Dean James Bloedel. The office of the vice provost for undergraduate programs will close July 1. Allen announced in April that oversight for the Graduate College would be moved into his office to more closely coordinate undergraduate and graduate programs. Bloedel will continue to coordinate the university's research function. Shapiro and Graduate College associate dean John Mayfield retain their faculty appointments at Iowa State.

As associate provost for academic programs, Holger will have responsibility for university-wide graduate and undergraduate programs, including assessment and student recruitment and retention, and is charged with leading efforts to improve the quality of academic programs at both levels. He will work closely with the colleges on academic issues and also have responsibility for the following units:

  • Center for Teaching Excellence
  • Program for Women in Science and Engineering
  • Honors Program
  • Graduate College

As dean of the Graduate College, Holger will oversee recruitment, admissions and student progress to degree; interdepartmental graduate programs and the Speak/Teach program for international teaching assistants. He will be the graduate-level liaison to colleges; the Board of Regents, State of Iowa; and other units.

The associate provost also will:

  • Lead the North Central Association accreditation process, including a self-study in FY05 and the site visit in FY06.
  • Oversee academic program review and accreditation.
  • Serve as liaison to the ISU Faculty Senate on curriculum issues.
  • Coordinate the Council on International Programs.

"My interest in this position was stimulated by my respect for the provost and his team, as well as the unusual opportunity to help define the position, as its initial occupant," Holger said. "Academic programs are the core of the university and I am excited about the opportunity this position presents to develop a more unified approach to academic programs encompassing all levels of education offered by Iowa State."

Holger joined the Iowa State faculty in 1974 as an assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics, and was promoted to professor in1984. He served as chair of the department of aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics from 1990 to 1995, and has served in the Engineering associate dean post since 1995. He served as president of the Iowa State Faculty Senate in 1989-90. In 2000, he was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Holger's bachelor's (1970), master's (1971) and doctoral (1974) degrees are from the University of Minnesota.

An internal search for a full-time or two half-time associate provost(s) from among Iowa State tenured professors opened in mid-April. A screening committee coordinated by associate provost Susan Carlson shared its recommendations with Allen, who made the final selection.