Chuck Staben named provost VP for academic affairs at The U
"Dr. Staben will bring great energy and enthusiasm to The U and we’re looking forward to him joining our community," stated USD President James W. Abbott. "He is an outstanding scholar, educator and administrator who complements our current team."
Staben, a member of the faculty at Kentucky since 1989, is a past chair of the UK biology department. In addition to serving as associate vice president for research, he is also a professor of biology having taught several different levels of biology as well as bioinformatics, genetics and microbiology. "I’m looking forward to the challenge of helping to run a comprehensive university like The University of South Dakota and building upon the extraordinary opportunities the institution is known for," said Staben, who earned a B.S. in biochemistry at the University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of California, Berkeley.
A native of Waukegan, Ill., Staben is a member of the national EPSCoR/IDeA Foundation Board. As a professor, he received a National Science Foundation curriculum development grant and was selected as College of Arts and Sciences, Distinguished Teacher 1997-2000, the most prestigious teaching award offered by the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky. Staben and his wife, Mary Beth, have three children.
Matthew Moen, Ph.D., who has served as acting provost and vice president for academic affairs since July, will return to his position as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at USD. A photograph of Staben is available for download at www.usd.edu/urelations/images/Chuck_Staben.jpg.