Robel appointed IU provost

Lauren K. Robel has been appointed executive vice president and provost of IU, effective July 1.

"Lauren was the enthusiastic and unanimous choice of the search committee, which was impressed with her vision, impeccable academic credentials, passion for students and her collaborative working style," McRobbie said in announcing the appointment. "In the few months Lauren has been interim provost, she has taken complete ownership of the role, earning the trust of her colleagues across the university and working tirelessly to improve the academic environment for our undergraduate students in Bloomington."

Search committee chairwoman Bernice Pescosolido, distinguished professor of sociology, praised Robel's record.

"We were impressed with the depth, breadth and excitement of faculty, staff and student participation in the process as well as with the overwhelmingly positive response to Lauren's record as a scholar, administrator and faculty member so deeply committed to the future of Indiana University," Pescosolido said in a press release.

"The committee is pleased to have had the opportunity to review so many strong nominations and to see Lauren Robel named as the new provost of the Bloomington campus."

Before becoming interim provost, Robel, a summa cum laude graduate of the IU Maurer School of Law, was dean of the law school since 2003 and a faculty member at IU Bloomington since 1985. Robel is a nationally recognized leader in legal education and is the president of the Association of American Law Schools.

While interim provost, Robel has worked to strengthen programs to support women on the Bloomington campus, begun an examination of retention programs for minority students and reached out to hear the concerns of student protestors.

"I am deeply honored to have this opportunity to serve this superb campus," Robel said in a press release. "It has been a privilege to work with the extraordinary community of faculty, students, staff and alumni that makes Bloomington an excellent and humane academic environment."

—Nona Tepper