Administrative changes to include new Provost, Cannabis Research Director

PUEBLO - Colorado State University-Pueblo President Timothy Mottet has announced the start of a national search for a new Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs as well as related administrative appointments that follow the recent departure of Institute of Cannabis Research (ICR) Director Wendy MacColl.

On January 1, Dr. Rick Kreminski will make a transition from Provost, a position he has held since 2015 (following service as interim provost 2012-2013), to Executive Director of Research and Sponsored Programs as well as serve as the Director of the ICR. According to Mottet, this move is critical due to the role that research plays in economic development for the region and generating additional revenue for the University as well as the growing importance of the ICR. Kreminski will remain a member of the Cabinet.

“I value the contributions and leadership that Rick has provided to academic affairs, but we need to redirect his energy and expertise in research and the sciences to research opportunities that map to regional economic needs and to the ICR, which is at a critical stage in its development in terms of infrastructure and external relationships,” Mottet said.   

Beginning in January, Dr. Bruce Raymond, dean of the Hasan School of Business, will serve as interim Provost during the Spring 2018 semester. Also throughout the Spring 2018 semester, HSB Professor of Marketing and Department Chair Dr. Abhay Shah will assume the duties of HSB Interim Dean. Shah joined the University faculty in 1988.

“Dean Raymond is a proven leader who has elevated the Hasan School of Business through a variety of relationship building community events and projects as well as changes to HSB curriculum and delivery in order to address market trends. I look forward to his leadership of Academic Affairs,” Mottet said. 

In Kreminski’s new role, he will coordinate numerous campus-wide research partnerships and programs. The position is funded through the ICR and indirect costs from sponsored programs and grants.  In addition to serving as provost until the end of the year, he will immediately begin serving as the interim director of the ICR until his permanent appointment in January. As interim director, he will provide oversight of all ICR research and programming in conjunction with the institute’s steering committee, as well as the 2018 international conference, and the research journal.

“Given the importance of the budding Cannabis Institute to our research and service missions, it is imperative that our ICR Director not just be well versed in the sciences and research protocols, but familiar with all departments on campus in order to facilitate cross disciplinary collaborations and analyze potential research proposals,” said Mottet. “With eight years on campus as a dean and provost, Rick has those connections and that knowledge base.”

As Executive Director of Research and Sponsored Programs, Kreminski will oversee the submission and proper usage of grants received from external sources, which has totaled more than $20 million since 2014. These dollars do not include the funding received to establish and operate the ICR.  He also will promote faculty and student research and creative efforts across campus through events and hosted conferences as well as coordination of internal research grants for faculty and undergraduate students.

Mottet has appointed Dr. William Folkestad, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, as chair of a national search for a new Provost that will begin immediately with the formation of a search committee. According to the search schedule, electronic and on-campus interviews with finalists will be conducted in February and March to insure that a new permanent Provost will begin duties in Summer 2018.

President Mottet said the Provost position provides an outstanding opportunity for a visionary academic leader who can develop an innovative culture of academic excellence by empowering our faculty and staff to develop enhanced learning and support systems that meet the needs of our students.