University of Iowa President Sally Mason announced Nov. 23 the formation of the official Provost Search Committee to replace former Provost Wallace Loh, now the president of the University of Maryland-College Park.

The committee consists of faculty, staff, and students at the UI.

Philosophy Professor Richard Fumerton and Professor Keith Carter, the head of the ophthalmology and visual sciences, will be the co-heads of the panel.

The committee will meet formally for the first time Thursday to discuss the search process.

P. Barry Butler, the former dean of the College of Engineering, is serving as interim provost.

Both committee members and Mason expect the new provost to be in place by the start of the next academic year.

— by Alison Sullivan