FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2000 CONTACT: Forrest Meyer, (515) 271-2017 TROYER NAMED DRAKE'S NEXT PROVOST Ronald Troyer, dean of Drake University's College of Arts and Sciences, will become Drake's next provost July 1, President David Maxwell has announced. The provost is Drake's chief academic officer. Troyer will succeed interim provost Stephen Hoag, who has served in that role since 1998 and will return to his previous job as dean of Drake's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. "Dean Troyer brings a number of valuable attributes to the task, including his knowledge of Drake University, his life-long commitment to teaching, learning and scholarship, and his considerable administrative experience," President Maxwell said. "Ron's most compelling asset is his sophisticated understanding of the opportunities Drake has before it. In addition, he is a leader in the national higher education community in the discussion on developing synergies between professional and liberal arts and sciences education." Troyer has been at Drake since 1980 and has been dean of the College of Arts and Sciences since 1994. He is a professor of sociology who continues to conduct research and publish scholarly works. He has been president of the Faculty Senate, chaired a task force on enhancing the quality of the freshman experience and has been coordinator of the first-year seminar program. In 1990 he was selected to give the Stalnaker Lecture at Drake and received the college's Centennial Scholar Award. In 1991 Troyer received the College of Arts and Sciences' Outstanding Teacher Award. "The provost's job is a tremendous challenge. It is an honor to be chosen as the chief academic officer at a university with such an exceptional faculty and dedicated staff," Troyer said. "I look forward to working with the outstanding administrative team that President Maxwell has assembled. My goal is to work with the faculty, administrators, staff and students to help Drake realize its tremendous potential as a leader in private higher education in the United States."