Anthony Frank Named Provost at Colorado State University

Colorado State University President Larry Edward Penley today named Senior Vice President Anthony Frank to the permanent role of provost, the university’s highest academic post. Frank has served as interim provost and senior vice president since February. He previously served as vice president for research and information technology at the university.

"We are extremely fortunate to be able to call upon an administrator of Dr. Frank’s caliber for this critical leadership role," Penley said. "His strong experience as a teacher, researcher, department head, research vice president and senior administrator – combined with his personal integrity and commitment to the role and mission of a 21st century land-grant university – are difficult to match. I have been very pleased with the leadership he has provided as interim provost, and I am grateful for his willingness to serve as the next provost and academic vice president of Colorado State University. He is widely respected as both a scholar and administrator, and we believe he is the right person to take the university’s excellence in academics and research to the next level."

Penley consulted with the Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System, university vice presidents, college deans and senior faculty before making the announcement. He received consistent advice that made Frank the obvious choice as the leader for academic affairs.

"In the more than 10 years that I have been a member of the Colorado State University community, I have developed a tremendous respect and admiration for this university, its accomplishments and the people who are responsible for its success," Frank said. "I feel privileged to help lead the university faculty and students toward even greater success in academic and research achievements."

Frank joined Colorado State in 1993 as an assistant professor of pathology and was promoted to head of that department in 1996. He was appointed associate dean for research for the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 1998 before being named vice president for research and information technology in 2000. Penley named Frank senior vice president in June 2004.

As provost, Frank will provide academic vision and leadership to fulfill the land-grant mission of Colorado State. Specifically, the provost oversees academic programming and faculty affairs on campus. Among other duties, the office coordinates faculty and staff diversity initiatives, new faculty appointments, promotion and tenure processes, faculty evaluations including annual reviews and post-tenure reviews, student appeals and commencement.

As senior vice president, Frank also is responsible for Colorado State’s academic core and oversees student affairs, research and information technology and multidisciplinary research units such as the university’s public policy institute and Water Resources Research Institute. In addition, Frank helps manage the President’s Cabinet and oversees coordination of the university’s academic core with finance, fund-raising and development efforts.

As vice president for research and information technology, Frank oversaw the university’s $220 million annual research portfolio and was responsible for generating excellence in research programs and integrating research into the graduate and undergraduate learning experience.

Frank also plays a leading role in the development, implementation and management of the university’s strategic planning process and the university’s planning and budget process.

Frank earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, in 1981. He earned his doctorate of veterinary medicine at the University of Illinois in 1985 and his doctorate in toxicologic pathology at Purdue University in 1988. Frank also has completed residencies in toxicology and pathology at Purdue and is board-certified in both disciplines.

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