“10 Questions” is part of a weekly series in which a Daily reporter interviews a prominent person in the Iowa State and Ames communities. To suggest a person for an interview, submit an e-mail request to [email protected]. This week’s interview is with Provost John Kozak, who will be leaving office Dec. 31 to teach in ISU’s chemistry department.

Why are you leaving as provost?

The principal reason is that I want to reconnect with my discipline … What’s happened in the most incredible way in the last eight to 10 months is that some work that I did a couple of years ago has become very relevant for a certain class of experiments … And, I felt that, in this position, after six years, you get to the point where you get to understand the parameters of the position. It’s not that there aren’t new challenges; it’s just that you sort of learn how to do the job.

What do you consider your bigger accomplishments of the past six years?

One thing I’m very much trying to do is provide an environment where faculty have opportunities to succeed professionally. I started the mentoring program for new faculty here, … and for faculty in mid-career, I started a program called “Study in a Second Discipline” … The third thing was that I inaugurated what is called the university professorship [for the] faculty person who is sort of the ideal university citizen.

The third point … is in place right now a group of deans that I think are absolutely terrific. I’ve had the opportunity of recommending to the president all the deans that are presently at Iowa State, except one.

The provost is kind of a lesser-known [position] at ISU. Could you outline your basic job responsibilities?

At many universities, there is a vice president for research, there is a vice president for what here is called Extension, a vice president for academic affairs and those vice presidents report separately to the president. The really interesting thing about the provost position at Iowa State is those three areas are vice provost positions. So all of the research, teaching and outreach, all the deans, the director of the computer center, the director of the Ames Lab, all those folks report to me, and then it’s my responsibility as provost to sort of integrate across these different areas.

Tell me about a unique or funny experience you’ve had here.

From the standpoint of uniqueness, leading delegations to India, Russia, China, has been for me an extraordinarily energizing and invigorating experience — intellectually — because you can see in those educational systems ways in which the talents of the professors here can really enrich and reform educational structures in other parts of the world.

What are the big things you’re going to be doing long-term?

I’ve been asked to be a consultant for the World Bank, and what that means is that I will be going to India twice a year for a month at a crack to work with 28 universities there on the reform of their educational system.

My medium- to long-term activities will be getting my courses ramped up again …

What is the biggest task or responsibility that the next provost is going to have to deal with?

I think it’s to sustain the momentum that’s been generated by President [Martin] Jischke, in terms of positioning Iowa State along the trajectory that will allow it to realize the aspirations eventually of being the premier land-grant university. That’s going to require constant energy, attention and total commitment because the competition out there is incredible.

If you could be a professional athlete, which sport would you play and why?

I played football in college and ran cross country and track in high school. I run every day right now, usually five miles a day … I’m a college football junkie. You have a certain appreciation for the game that you don’t get unless you’ve actually been knocked on your behind a couple times.

What would you like for Christmas? No intangibles allowed.

As a professor, I love to buy books … so if I had to say what I would like, it would probably be books.

Where did you grow up, and how has that affected you?

I grew up on concrete in Cleveland, Ohio, on the west side of Cleveland … It was an environment where education was extremely important … I lived in a very ethnic neighborhood. Every house was a different nationality. You’d walk down the street, and you’d hear Polish, and Italian and German. I didn’t realize it at the time — I just thought that’s the way the whole world was.

After the day-long hearings Tuesday about President Clinton, what’s your impression of that whole situation?

It’s very interesting how the whole country has gotten mesmerized by this series of events. The sad thing to me about all of this … is how it’s taken the attention of the legislators and the president away from the important things that need to be done.