Harold Silverman, dean of the Graduate School, was named interim provost and executive vice chancellor. He will replace University Vice Chancellor and Provost Risa Palm who announced Aug. 18 that she is leaving the University in October. Palm accepted a position as provost and vice chancellor of the State University of New York System. “I am honored, pleased and humbled to be asked by the chancellor to serve in this position while LSU conducts a national search for the best leadership we can find to be the next permanent provost,” Silverman said in a statement. “I am looking forward to this new challenge.” Palm said an important factor in her decision was to be closer to her son John Greenland, who is a medical student at Harvard University. “I am thankful for my time here, and I will miss working with the tremendous faculty, administration and students,” Palm said. “But the challenge of bringing the State University of New York to a higher level of achievement is an attractive one.” During her time at the University, Palm spearheaded numerous programs tied to the Flagship Agenda, including the summer reading program, the Foundations of Excellence program, the China Initiative and Tiger Trek-a bus tour for new faculty members that is designed to expose them to Louisiana’s unique towns and cultures. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Risa, and we are extremely proud of her,” Chancellor Sean O’Keefe said. “We’re disappointed that she’s moving on, but we thank her for what she’s given the University.” He said a faculty member will chair the search and promised it will include student involvement.
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