An interim director for The Center for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities has been chosen to follow Sheryl St. Germain’s departure.

English professor Brenda Daly will step in as the new interim director, effective Aug. 15. Daly served on the steering committee for the Center and helped draft the original proposal.

“I’m interested in making the arts and humanities more visible and to get the word out as to why the arts and humanities are important,” Daly said.

Daly will only be the interim director for the fall semester, when a full-time replacement should be found.

“I’m happy to do this, but I have many other time commitments,” she said.

Wolfgang Kliemann, associate vice provost for research administration, said an internal search is scheduled to begin in the fall for the permanent director.

“It will be a much broader and more in-depth process. We will have a search committee and send out announcements to everyone on campus that there is a position open, and anyone can apply,” he said. “The committee will then make recommendations on applicants, and the vice provost will make a list of people, who then will make presentations and interviews.”

Kliemann said the steering committee, comprised of people on campus with a strong interest and background in arts and humanities, was asked who they thought would be the best director.

“The name that came up most often was Brenda’s, and that made it easier,” Kliemann said.