Michael Benedik Named Texas A&M Vice Provost, The University’s Second-Ranking Academic Position
Michael J. Benedik, professor of biology and genetics and currently serving as dean of faculties and associate provost, has been named as Texas A&M University’s vice provost, effective July 1.
Provost & Executive Vice President Karan L. Watson announced Benedik’s selection as Texas A&M’s second-highest academic administrator today.
“Michael Benedik will bring a remarkable set of planning and leadership skills, as well as experience, to the role of vice provost. Over his career as a scientist and an administrator he has proved his ability to work across disciplines and build consensus. We’ve worked together for a number of years and I look forward to working more closely with him in his new role,” Watson said.
Benedik moves into the position formerly held by Pamela R. Matthews, who was recently selected as dean of the College of Liberal Arts after serving as interim dean since July 2014.
Watson added that Benedik will provide leadership for a variety of campus-wide initiatives in concert with her, the dean of faculties, the college deans and the vice president for research, with an emphasis on multi-college interdisciplinary curricular programs and academic strategic initiatives.
“Additionally, he will serve as a facilitator of the University Grand Challenges initiative and serve as an advisor to both me and the president,” Watson said.
Watson thanked the advisory search committee that assisted her in the selection — a group that included faculty and administrators.
Watson also announced that Blanca Lupiani, professor of veterinary pathobiology and associate dean of faculties, will serve as interim dean of faculties and associate provost until a successor for Benedik has been identified.
Benedik has served as dean of faculties and associate provost since 2013 and previously served in that position on an interim basis.
“I am honored to be selected as vice-provost and am excited about the new challenges the position will bring,” Benedik said. “The prospect of working with the entire campus leadership on a variety of strategic academic initiatives, to interact more closely with the provost and president, and to have the chance to learn and further support this amazing university is truly a wonderful opportunity.”
He earned a B.A. degree at the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. at Stanford University in biology. Following his graduate studies he worked in the biotechnology industry in northern California. He joined the faculty at Texas A&M in 1984, moved to the University of Houston in 1989 and returned to Texas A&M in 2004 as a professor in the Department of Biology and the Faculty of Genetics.
He has served both his department and the university in numerous roles and on various committees. He chaired the University Grievance Committee for four years, served on the Committee on Academic Freedom Responsibility and Tenure (CAFRT) and the University Undergraduate Appeals Panel and was a research standards officer. He was the university’s faculty ombuds officer from 2010 to 2012. He was elected as speaker of the Faculty Senate for the 2011-12 academic year after serving two terms as a senator.
In 2010 he was awarded an International Professorship from the American Society of Microbiology and named a Regents Professor for Texas A&M in 2013. He has authored more than 90 publications and has had grant funding from a variety of federal, state and industry sources.
Watson thanked Christine A. Stanley, vice president for diversity, who served as acting vice provost while the selection process was conducted when Matthews assumed leadership of the College of Liberal Arts.
Additionally, Watson announced that Michael Stephenson, associate vice provost for academic affairs, will lead the search advisory committee for Benedik’s permanent successor.
Media contact: tamunews@tamu.edu.
