ANN ARBOR—Martha Pollack, dean of the School of Information (SI), has been named vice provost for academic and budgetary affairs, effective July 1, pending formal approval by the Board of Regents.

Pollack succeeds Phil Hanlon, who will become the university?s provost. Hanlon announced Pollack?s appointment Feb. 24.

?I am delighted that she has agreed to take on this role. She will bring the excellent values and skills that are important to the job as well as a strong record of academic and administrative accomplishments,? Hanlon said. ?In addition, her perspective as a former dean will be invaluable to the work of the Provost?s Office.?

Pollack, who has been with the university since 2000, has been SI dean since August 2007. Previously, she served for three years as associate chair for Computer Science and Engineering in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. She is a professor in SI and in Computer Science and Engineering. Her primary research interests include assistive technologies and artificial intelligence.

?I am deeply honored by and excited about the opportunity to serve the broad university community in this new role,? Pollack said. ?There is so much more I have to learn about this big, complex, wonderful university ? and I?m really looking forward to it.

?I eagerly anticipate working closely with the incoming provost and the deans of the other schools and colleges, with whom I?ve greatly enjoyed interacting over the past two and a half years.?

At the same time, Pollack says she is saddened to leave SI. Serving as dean there was the best job she?s ever had, she says.

?The work done at the school is so innovative, interesting, and important, and the faculty and staff at SI are the best group of colleagues I can imagine,? she said. ?While I?m thrilled about my new job, I?m equally sad about leaving my current one.?