After nearly four years as an associate dean of Iowa State’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Richard Hoffmann begins work today as interim dean of the LAS college.

An 18-year employee of ISU, Hoffmann was named interim LAS dean by provost John Kozak Aug. 18. He will take over the position left vacant by Elizabeth Hoffman, who is the new provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Illinois, Chicago.

Hoffmann described his change in positions as moving “from more of a staff role of supporting the dean to a role of actually implementing policies” in the LAS college.

While Hoffmann’s associate dean position had him concentrating in the areas of budget and personnel, acting as interim dean will bring Hoffmann the increased challenge of “assembling a broad perspective of all the business conducted within the college.”

Hoffmann said his experience as associate dean has provided him with insight he can make use of while interim dean.

“I think that I’ve been in the dean’s office long enough to have an idea of the multiple missions concerning the (LAS) college,” he said.

Hoffmann said he realizes that the added responsibilities of moving from his previous position to that of acting dean will call for certain sacrifices.

“I know that I will have less time for myself,” he said, “And that this will call for an even greater commitment to the college.”

While his previous position dealt with facilitating program development and personnel responsibilities, Hoffmann said being interim dean will require additional work in the areas of implementing the actual academic programs, as well as the additional dealings with students and the public at large that come with the role of dean.

Hoffmann said he is not seeking the permanent dean position, and that a search for a permanent dean for the college should begin in early fall.

He added that the length of the search for a permanent dean will depend upon the availability of a quality candidate for the position.

Before becoming an associate LAS dean in 1993, Hoffmann taught ISU classes in various areas of biology and worked to develop programs of graduate study in the areas of evolutionary biology and ecology.