June 1, 2017

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to introduce Jeffrey L. Duerk, our newly appointed executive vice president and provost. Dr. Duerk is currently dean and Leonard Case Professor of the School of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University and will begin his new role on July 1.

Dr. Duerk is an accomplished engineer and scientist, as well as a respected academic with deep appreciation for the social sciences, the arts, and the humanities. Throughout his distinguished career, he has promoted many interdisciplinary research and educational initiatives. A leading expert in biomedical imaging, especially magnetic resonance imaging, he holds more than 30 patents and has been awarded numerous NIH and industry-sponsored grants. In 2017, he was inducted as a fellow into the National Academy of Inventors, which recognizes academic achievement, innovation, and scientific discovery.

As executive vice president and provost, he will serve as the University's chief academic officer. He will have appointing and oversight authority concerning the deans of the University's 11 schools and colleges, as well as the senior administrators involved with research, undergraduate and graduate education, and other academic areas. He will also have primary responsibility for budgetary matters regarding academic and research initiatives in the context of the Executive Budget Committee described in my message of May 24.

Dr. Duerk joined the Case Western faculty in 1988 and was appointed dean of the School of Engineering in 2012. He was the founding director of the Case Center of Imaging Research, an innovative and interdisciplinary center that brings together engineers, physicists, physicians, biochemists, and radiochemists to explore and develop new biomedical imaging technologies and translational applications. He was also a founding leader of the Cancer Imaging program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. An advocate for study abroad and international collaboration, Dr. Duerk was instrumental in either planning or putting in place research and student learning programs in Germany, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, China, Brazil, Romania, South Korea, Indonesia, and other locations.

He received his B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University, his M.S. in electrical engineering from The Ohio State University, and his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Case Western in 1987.

I want to again recognize and thank Tom LeBlanc for his unwavering commitment and stewardship during his 12-year tenure as provost. I know he will make the UM community proud as president of The George Washington University.

Dr. Duerk brings with him an impressive resume in leadership and research, and I am confident that he will successfully build upon the strong foundation left by Tom. I know he will bring new ideas that will enhance the University of Miami's standing as one of the nation's leading research universities. He will play a leading role as we move forward in implementing the Roadmap to Our New Century.

I would also like to thank the chair of the search committee, Dr. Eduardo Alfonso, and all its members for the rigorous work that led to this outstanding result. As always, the Faculty Senate has played a constructive role throughout this important process.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Jeffrey Duerk and his wife, Cindy, to the University of Miami family.