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University Appoints Luther Williams As New Provost

TUSKEGEE, Ala. - (May 17, 2006) - University President Benjamin F. Payton has appointed Dr. Luther S. Williams as the new Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Tuskegee University, effective June 1, 2006.

Dr. Williams, who currently serves as dean of graduate studies and director of the Integrative BioSciences Ph.D. Program, has had a distinguished career that ranges from faculty positions at major American universities to administrative roles in higher educational and government agencies, particularly in science and technology.

Dr. Williams served as William T. Kemper Director of Education and Interpretation at the Missouri Botanical Garden prior to coming to Tuskegee University. In 1990, he was appointed assistant director of education and human resources at the National Science Foundation, where he also served as senior science advisor. His other work includes assistant professor of biology at Purdue University, associate professor of biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, associate professor of biology, assistant provost and professor of biology at Purdue University, professor of biology and dean of the Graduate School at Washington University, vice president for academic affairs at the University of Colorado, President of Atlanta University and special assistant to the director of the National Institutes of General Medical Sciences.

Dr. Williams has served as chairman of the White House Biotechnology Science Coordinating Committee and as vice chairman of the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology Committee on Education and Human Resources.

Additionally, he has served as vice chairman of the National Science and Technology Council’s Committee on Education and Training and served as chairman of its Subcommittee on Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education.

Dr. Williams earned his B.A. in biology with distinction from Miles College in Birmingham, Ala., his M.S. from Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga., and his Ph.D. in microbial physiology from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. He has completed postdoctoral work at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

The Chief Academic Officer is appointed by the President of Tuskegee University and is responsible to him for all curricular, instructional, research, outreach and faculty personnel matters. He will have authority and responsibility for advancing the academic quality and stature of the University. Under the direction of the President and in conjunction with the deans, this officer allocates budgets, faculty positions and instructional resources for all academic areas, including research in the University libraries, outreach, undergraduate, graduate and summer school programs.

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