Office Of The Provost Names New Interim Vice Provost
Texas A&M University Office of the Provost today announced the appointment of Patrick Louchouarn as interim vice provost for faculty affairs and interdisciplinary initiatives, beginning March 1.
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President Mark W. Weichold announced the appointment today, noting Louchouarn will be responsible for numerous duties involving faculty, including the review and management of faculty hiring, awards and other faculty matters for the provost, overseeing interdisciplinary initiatives and institutes that report to the provost, facilitating the university’s visioning process, and coordinating academic initiatives. Louchouarn also will advise the provost on faculty-related issues as well as coordinate funding opportunities through the Governor’s University Research Initiative and the Chancellor’s Research Initiative.
Weichold said Louchouarn brings a wealth of administrative experience to the position and familiarity with university operations. He has served as chief academic officer for Texas A&M University Galveston Campus and associate provost at Texas A&M since 2012. He previously served as department head of the Department of Marine Sciences at Galveston (2010-2013) and associate director of the Master’s Program in Public Administration at Columbia University (2003-2006).
In 2020, he was named a Regents Professor. He currently serves as convener of the Council of Deans and a member of the executive committee on student success initiatives. He is a member of several boards in Galveston that focus on economic development and emerging technology.
Louchouarn earned his undergraduate degree in marine biology at McGill University in 1989, and a master’s and doctorate in environmental sciences from University of Québec in Montréal in 1992 and 1997.
He is filling the position previously held by Michael Benedik, who was named provost at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) in Doha, Qatar effective March 14. In his new role, Benedik will serve as the chief academic officer at HBKU and have oversight of all academic operations.
“We are grateful for Dr. Benedik for his 20 years of service to Texas A&M not only as vice provost and chief international officer, but also in his previous work as dean of faculties, speaker of the Faculty Senate, and faculty ombuds officer,” Weichold said.
