91̽�� President Ana Mari Cauce today named Jerry Baldasty provost and executive vice president, following a 14-month term as interim provost. The appointment is to a three-year term, effective June 1, 2016, subject to approval by the Board of Regents.

“Jerry’s excellence as a scholar and teacher, as well as a seasoned administrative leader, makes him the ideal person to serve as UW’s chief academic and budgetary officer,” said Cauce. “The Provost oversees the challenging and crucial work of ensuring our teaching and scholarship is of the highest quality. This is the foundation of our University, and Jerry’s demonstrated commitment to the 91̽��ensures that work is in safe hands.”

Baldasty was named interim provost in March 2015, when Cauce, who had previously held the provost and executive vice president positions, became interim president. Baldasty will continue to work on a range of efforts he has undertaken since being named interim provost, from enhancing the Husky Experience to transforming the University’s administration to better serve the UW’s academic and research missions. He has also provided leadership on innovative initiatives designed to advance the 91̽��student experience and world-class teaching, such as the and pilot programs including the and .

A professor of communication, Baldasty has been a 91̽��faculty member since 1978. He won a Distinguished Teaching Award in 2000 and served as chair of the Department of Communication from 2002 to 2008, when he moved into the role of dean and vice provost of the 91̽��Graduate School. He is a former director of the  and has served on a variety of 91̽��committees and boards.

“In all my years at this wonderful university, I have not felt the sense of optimism and confidence in its possibilities as I do now,” said Baldasty. “It is a privilege to serve as provost at this time, and I am genuinely enthused to be working with President Cauce to enable our students, faculty and staff to do great things.”

A native of Spokane, Baldasty received his bachelor’s degree in communications from the 91̽��in 1972, his master’s in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1974, and his doctorate from the 91̽��in 1978. He has authored three books and numerous articles. His academic research has focused on media in the context of politics, business, gender, race and ethnicity.