Richard Seagrave will be named the interim provost today, replacing Provost John Kozak, who announced his resignation in late October.

Seagrave’s appointment is effective Jan. 1, and he will continue the work of Kozak, whose resignation is effective Dec. 31.

At that time, Kozak will return as a faculty member of the chemistry department.

Seagrave, distinguished professor of chemistry, will then serve as the university’s chief academic officer, overseeing ISU’s eight colleges, ISU Extension and various research units until a permanent provost is chosen.

“He’s a very distinguished professor who has held a number of leadership positions and is certainly seen as someone very capable of serving as interim provost,” said John McCarroll, director of University Relations.

Other members of the administration also seem pleased about Seagrave’s appointment.

“I am personally delighted and grateful that such a distinguished member of the university’s faculty is willing to serve as interim provost,” ISU President Martin Jischke said in a press release. “I am confident that Professor Seagrave will do an excellent job, and the university will continue to progress as we search for a permanent provost.”

Seagrave joined ISU as an associate professor in 1966, according to a press release. He was named a professor in 1971 and distinguished professor in 1982.

Seagrave served as the professor-in-charge of the biomedical engineering program from 1974 to 1980 and chairman of the chemical engineering program from 1983 to 1990.

He also has served as chairman for 11 ISU committees, including the Presidential Review Committee and currently the University Lectures Committee.

He received a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Rhode Island in 1957 and a M.S. and Ph.D. from ISU in 1959 and 1961, respectively.

Seagrave’s teaching and research areas include life support systems, biothermodynamics, transport phenomena in living systems, chemical reaction engineering and non-equilibrium thermodynamics.

Recently, Seagrave has received numerous honors including the Presidential Service Award and the Thomas B. Thielen Award from ISU.