Don Pope-Davis, Notre Dame's current associate vice president for graduate studies and a psychology professor, has been named interim vice president for graduate studies and research, according to a University statement released April 20.
He will begin his duties July 1 and replace Jeffrey Kantor, who has held the position since 2000.
"Don Pope-Davis was selected as interim vice president because he is an accomplished researcher who understands the importance of research," Provost Thomas Burish said Monday. "He is the best qualified person to move in at this time."
But Pope-Davis' appointment is intended to fill the position for just a year. The University has not decided what to do when Pope-Davis' interim term ends, Burish said, and is considering a reorganization of his office.
Burish appointed a committee headed by Dean of the College of Engineering Frank Incropera to research splitting the position of vice president for graduate studies and research into two positions. If split, one position would be responsible for issues relating to academics, while the other would be responsible for issues related to research.
There is "no one particular model that is used" by universities, Burish said.
Burish said "no final decision" would be made until Incropera's committee reaches a conclusion.
The search itself will take time, Burish said.
"I anticipate a national search for one person to fill the role of vice president, or two if it is divided," he said.
Pope-Davis specializes in the areas of multicultural psychology, counseling and education. He is also the co-author of three books related to his fields of expertise, and he has had more than 50 journal articles and book chapters published.
Pope-Davis was appointed assistant vice president of the Notre Dame Graduate School in 2002 and was promoted to associate vice president two years later. He has also served as a coordinator for the Multicultural Research Institute and is a director of Notre Dame's McNair Scholars Program.
He is the chair of Notre Dame's Faculty Board on Athletics and its NCAA faculty athletics representative.
