Dean Dennis Hedge named interim provost

Sara Bertsch Editor-in-Chief

Dennis Hedge, the dean of the College of Pharmacy, will serve as the interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs of South Dakota State University.

This announcement was made by President David Chicoine on Friday morning. Hedge will succeed Provost Laurie Nichols, who will serve until May 13. Nichols accepted the presidency at the University of Wyoming at the end of Fall 2015 semester. 

In Chicoine’s campus-wide email, he writes that Hedge will “continue the momentum and strategic direction established under Provost Nichols’ leadership of improving academic and scholarly excellence for the university.” 

Hedge will serve as the interim until a new president is hired and assumes office. Then a national search can be conducted. Jane Mort, the associate dean for pharmacy, will be the acting dean of the College of Pharmacy.