Carol Tomlinson-Keasey, vice provost for academic planning and personnel, has been named the first vice provost for academic initiatives for the UC system. Harvey Himelfarb, professor of art, has been appointed Tomlinson-Keasey's interim successor, effective March 1, permitting him to work with her for a time before her departure. Tomlinson-Keasey's appointment was announced at last week's UC Board of Regents meeting by Judson King, UC provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. "We are pleased to have Carol and her experience and energy in this new position that promises to put her at the forefront of developing long-range academic initiatives for the university," King said. In the new position, Tomlinson-Keasey will lead the university in the development of major systemwide academic initiatives, including promoting the academic use of instructional and information technology, expanding the academic reach of the university through its extension program and coordinating the planning for the university's 10th campus. She will assume her new duties in late March. "We will miss Carol lots--for so many reasons," said Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef. "But this new position fits her talents and career goals like a glove. She has worked long and hard for us in a real pressure-cooker position. She deserves this opportunity, and she will bring a positive 'let's do it' attitude to the job." Vanderhoef noted that Tomlinson-Keasey is the third UC Davis administrator to be tapped this year for a senior leadership position within UC--"a wonderful testament to the campus and, certainly, to Carol, Robert Shelton and M.R.C. Greenwood, but rather bittersweet news to us." Shelton, former vice chancellor for research, became UC vice provost for research last October. Greenwood, former dean of graduate studies and vice provost for academic outreach, assumed the chancellorship of UC Santa Cruz last July. "I am delighted to have this opportunity to continue serving the university and am looking forward to working with the campuses on the many challenging issues that we face," Tomlinson-Keasey said. "I do not look at this move as leaving Davis but rather as working with the campus from another venue. This perspective makes the move away from friends and colleagues a lot easier." Tomlinson-Keasey has served as vice provost for academic planning and personnel at Davis since 1995, dean of the College of Letters and Science from 1994 to 1995 and vice provost for faculty relations from 1992 to 1994. She was a professor at UC Riverside from 1980 to 1992 and has held faculty positions at Rutgers University and the University of Nebraska. Himelfarb served as acting vice provost in 1994-95, when Tomlinson-Keasey served as dean of the College of Letters and Science. Himelfarb "is exceptionally well qualified to step into this position upon such short notice and has graciously agreed to serve, with the understanding that he will not be a candidate for the permanent post," said Provost Robert Grey.