TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Dr. Kevin Whitaker, a veteran University of Alabama administrator and faculty member, has been named executive vice president and provost.
The selection, which is subject to UA System Board of Trustee approval, is effective Jan. 1.
Whitaker has served as interim provost since June 2015, following the retirement of Dr. Joe Benson. He also chaired the university’s Strategic Planning Council while interim provost.
“After an extensive search which brought four strong candidates to our campus, the search committee and I concluded the best person for the job was the one who was already in it,” said UA President Stuart R. Bell. “Dr. Whitaker’s leadership skills, the experience he has gained during his 20 years at The University of Alabama, and his collaborative approach to decision making will serve us well.”
Whitaker has received several awards, including the Outstanding Aerospace Engineering Faculty Member and the 2007 T. Morris Hackney Endowed Faculty Leadership Award. He has been awarded numerous externally-funded research grants and has numerous reviewed publications.
“I am both honored and humbled to accept this position and the challenges and opportunities it brings with it,” said Whitaker. “We have an outstanding group of faculty, students, administrators and staff, and I look forward to working with all of them as we continue to move our university forward.”
Whitaker received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from General Motors Institute in 1980. He received his master’s and doctoral degrees from Texas A&M University in 1982 and 1986, respectively.
Contact
UA Media Relations, 205/348-5320