Interim Provost Announcement
Monday, April 5, 2010
To the Pacific Community:
Last month, I announced that we would extend our search for a new provost, and that I would appoint an interim provost to take over when Phil Gilbertson retires on June 30. Today, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Patrick J. Ferrillo, Jr., Dean of the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, has agreed to serve as interim provost.
Before becoming dean at the Dugoni School in 2006, Dr. Ferrillo was dean at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (1986-2002); then dean of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine (2002-2006). He did his undergraduate work in biology at Georgetown University and earned his D.D.S. at Baylor College of Dentistry.
The nominations for interim provost from the campus community demonstrated the breadth of talent and confidence we have in all of our deans. I appreciate Dean Ferrillo’s willingness to take on this important role, and in so doing, help to further develop ties between our Stockton and San Francisco campuses.
Dr. Ferrillo will spend most of his time in Stockton, approximately four days per week. He will continue to be involved in the feasibility study and planning for a new dental school facility, and he will maintain his close involvement with donors and other external audiences while he is interim provost.
Dr. Nader Nadershahi, currently associate dean for academic affairs at the dental school, will step into the role of acting dean of the dental school. Dr. Nadershahi will have day-to-day management responsibility for the dental school while Dr. Ferrillo serves as interim provost. He will also continue his academic dean responsibilities.
The Provost Search Committee has resumed its work under the leadership of Dean Phil Oppenheimer. We will continue our aggressive national search for a provost who represents just the right combination of academic and administrative excellence, who embraces the spirit of University of the Pacific and is ready to lead Pacific’s academics into the future. The committee will continue to keep the University community informed of its progress as it reviews candidates and brings them for campus visits. We hope the search will be completed in the next nine months, with a new provost starting at Pacific by summer 2011.
I truly appreciate Dr. Ferrillo’s willingness to take on this responsibility. Please join me in welcoming Dean Ferrillo to his upcoming role. I look forward to his partnership as we move into the new academic year.
Warm regards,
Pamela A. Eibeck, PhD, PE
President