ANN ARBOR—J. Bernard Machen, dean of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, will serve as the U-M’s interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

The appointment, effective Sept. 1-Dec. 31, was approved by the U-M Board of Regents at its June 15-16 meeting. Gilbert R. Whitaker Jr., who has served as provost since 1990, will return to teaching and a search for his successor is under way.

“Dean Machen has had extensive background and experience in academic, administrative, and budget affairs here at the University, and I believe he is eminently qualified to serve as interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs,” said U-M President James J. Duderstadt.

Machen, dean and professor of the U-M School of Dentistry since 1989, held teaching and administrative posts at the School of Dentistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1975-89. Before that, he taught at the University of Maryland, George Washington University, the University of Iowa and the Medical University of South Carolina.

He received his D.D.S. degree from St. Louis University in 1968, M.S. in pedodontics in 1972 and a Ph.D. in educational psychology in 1974 from the University of Iowa.

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