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Former provost named acting head of NSF divisionNov. 10, 2005 KALAMAZOO--The National Science Foundation has appointed Western Michigan University's Dr. Daniel M. Litynski to serve as the Acting Division Director of the Division of Undergraduate Education in the Directorate of Education and Human Resources effective Nov. 1. Litynski has been serving at the NSF as a program director for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics--known as STEM--in the same division. He began his duties in Washington, D.C., one year ago in the directorate designed to strengthen and ensure the vitality of the nation's science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. In his new role, Litynksi will lead the NSF's Division of Undergraduate Education, which serves as the agency's focal point for innovation and improvement of undergraduate STEM education and for many of NSF's programs addressing STEM work force issues and the need to support the development of a diverse and well-prepared workforce of scientists, engineers, mathematicians and technicians, and an informed citizenry. Its objectives include innovation in courses, laboratories, and curricula, plus increasing the quality, quantity and diversity of the science and engineering workforce. "I am honored that the National Science Foundation would offer me the opportunity to serve as the director of the Division of Undergraduate Education," Litynski says. "These days of global engagement on an unprecedented scale make the strength of our undergraduate programs vital to the nation's prosperity and security. I am excited at the possibility of continuing to serve the nation through leadership in furthering our science and engineering capabilities." Litynski is serving in a rotator assignment under the provisions of the Intergovernmental Personnel Act that allows him to remain a tenured faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in WMU's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The University receives an NSF grant in exchange for Litynski's services for the duration of the appointment. During the term of his appointment, he continues to return to the University periodically to work on special projects. He plans to return to WMU to teach upon completion of his assignment. Litynski, who is a retired U.S. Army brigadier general, came to WMU in 1999 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, when he accepted the position as dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He served in that role until 2002, when he was named provost and vice president for academic affairs. During his tenure as provost, he served for six months as interim University president while a search was conducted that led to the selection of Dr. Judith I. Bailey as WMU's seventh president. Following Bailey's selection in 2003, Litynski resumed his position as provost until he left that position in June 2004. Media contact: Cheryl Roland, (269) 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu WMU News |
