College Names James S. Malek as Provost
	James S. Malek, an expert on Restoration and 18th-century British literature who has more than 20 years of teaching and administrative experience, has been named provost at Ithaca College. Malek, currently dean of the Schmidt College of Arts and Letters and professor of English at Florida Atlantic University, will begin his new duties in Ithaca in early August. "I am impressed by the high caliber and broad diversity of students and faculty I have met at Ithaca College," said Malek. "Ithaca College has a clear sense of direction and a well-defined mission to provide excellence in undergraduate education." "Dr. Malek comes to the position with an impressive background in teaching and academic administration and with a history of bringing people together to move the institution forward," said Ithaca College president Peggy R. Williams in announcing the appointment. "We are looking forward with great enthusiasm to working with Dr. Malek," said Stephen Hilbert, professor of mathematics and computer science and chair of the search committee. "We are very pleased that he has accepted the College's offer." Prior to his 1995 appointment at Florida Atlantic, Malek served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of English at the University of Nebraska, Omaha (1994-95); dean of the College of Liberal Arts and professor of English at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (1990-94); chair and professor of English at DePaul University (1981-90); and chair and professor of English at Wayne State University (1978-81). He began his academic career at the University of Idaho, where he was on the English faculty and held posts as associate dean of the graduate school, department chair, and director of graduate programs in English. Malek holds Ph.D. and A.M. degrees from the University of Chicago and a B.A. degree from Earlham College. He also studied at American University in Washington, D.C., and at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England. He is the author of The Arts Compared: An Aspect of Eighteenth-Century British Aesthetics and has written numerous articles and reviews in such publications as the Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, Studies in Short Fiction, Philological Quarterly, and Criticism. Among other honors, Malek has held Woodrow Wilson, Ford Foundation, and National Endowment for the Humanities fellowships. "One priority I emphasize is creating interactive links between a college and the broader community it serves," said Malek, who has served on numerous college, university, and state committees, councils, and task forces. At Nebraska, he encouraged partnerships between the university's Black Studies Department, the Urban League, and other community organizations and expanded Women's Studies, Native American Studies, and other multidisciplinary programs. At the University of Nevada he supported land acquisition for archeological sites, while at Florida Atlantic he led development of new programs that include a multidisciplinary Judaic Studies Department, an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in comparative studies, and ventures with an area film commission and corporations to provide new internship opportunities for students. Malek succeeds Thomas C. Longin, who served as Ithaca College provost from 1985 to 1996. Mary Lee Seibert has served as acting provost since 1996.