John Frederick, executive vice-president and provost at the University, has accepted a position as Senior Fellow with NASULGC, a public university association effective July 1.

Frederick, who is also a tenured University chemistry professor and researcher, has been tapped to help launch a new national initiative:the Science and Mathematics Teacher Imperative. This initiative is designed to increase the number of first-rate middle school and high school science and mathematics teachers prepared by NASULGC members and other higher education institutions.

This national Commission is chaired by Chancellor Richard Herman at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and includes leaders from universities, schools and industry.

"I'm excited to be involved in this bold initiative to bolster our nation's science and math education," said Frederick. "I am also grateful to President Glick for allowing me the opportunity to take a year's development leave to pursue this project, and to work with national education and business leaders to improve the United States' competitiveness in science and technology."

"I want to thank John Frederick for extraordinary service to the University as a teacher, scholar and administrator. The University has benefited greatly from his leadership. He leaves a very solid foundation for his successor," said University President Milt Glick.

"I know that NASULGC is enthused about John's decision to work with them on critical projects which are important nationally," Glick continued. "John brings a strong level of interest and expertise to this work."

As a newly appointed Senior Fellow at NASULGC, Frederick also will help the association enlist the involvement of chief academic officers, scientific professional societies, and education policy makers across the country.

NASULGC President Peter McPherson added, "We are delighted to have someone of John Frederick's ability and talent to help us shape SMTI in its critical first year. His academic stature and passion for science education will benefit not only our project, but all future educators and students, as we find ways to better train and retain K-12 science and mathematics teachers."

McPherson said NASULGC member institutions, with their large science and engineering student bodies and major research efforts, "can play an indispensable role in the preparation, induction and further professional development of teachers."

Frederick brings "the best of research and teaching" to this NASULGC position, he added.

Supported by 18 competitive research grants, Frederick has published more than 40 peer-reviewed articles in leading chemical physics journals. A popular educator of undergraduate and graduate students, Frederick has won prestigious teaching awards at both the college and university levels.

A staunch proponent of undergraduate research, he directed the chemistry department's undergraduate summer research program from 1994-2000. During this time, the program was supported by two National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates grants.

He received his A.B. degree in chemistry from Princeton University, and his A.M and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from Harvard University. As a graduate student, Frederick was a National Science Foundation Research Fellow.

Glick indicated an interim provost will be named soon. "I will also immediately establish a search committee which will undertake a national search with the goal to name a continuing provost no later than July 2008 and possibly as early as January," he said.