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CORVALLIS - Timothy P. White, dean of the College of Health and Human Performance at Oregon State University since 1996, has been named provost and executive vice president at OSU. He has served in that position on an interim basis since January.

White succeeds Roy Arnold, who resigned as provost last year to return to administrative duties in the College of Agricultural Sciences, where he formerly served as dean.

As provost and executive vice president, White is the second highest ranking administrator at OSU. Responsibilities include oversight of the university's academic colleges, Extension Service, international programs, distance and continuing education, and the offices of Research, Information Services, Academic Affairs, and Student Affairs.

White's appointment comes at a key moment in the university's development, said OSU President Paul Risser.

"OSU is growing rapidly, developing new programs and directions and continually expanding our partnerships in many areas," Risser said. "Tim White brings to the job deep knowledge about Oregon State, as well as a superb set of leadership skills and a clarity of vision about the future of our university.

"Strong academic and executive leadership are particularly important at this time," Risser added, "and Tim has demonstrated significant success, integrity and the necessary skills during his four-and-a-half years at OSU. He will continue to provide outstanding and compassionate leadership."

White said he is "enthused by the rich opportunity at OSU to focus our aspirations on excellence in our learning, discovery and outreach programs. I am very pleased and honored to be appointed to OSU in this capacity, and for the trust and confidence President Risser and the university have placed in me.

"I am interested in further developing a multicultural educational community, such that we optimally prepare our students for the global environment in which they will live, work, compete and prosper," White said. "I look forward to working collaboratively with students, faculty, staff and campus leadership to achieve these goals such that we meet the evolving needs and expectations of society."

White came to OSU as dean in January of 1996, after serving for five years as professor and chair of the Department of Human Biodynamics at the University of California-Berkeley. He previously was on the faculty of the University of Michigan, where he spent 13 years, including stints as chair of the Department of Movement Science, and research scientist in the Institute of Gerontology.

White is a nationally known researcher in the field of exercise science. His research career has focused on skeletal muscle plasticity, with a particular interest in investigating the adaptive responses of aging and regenerating muscle to physical activity.

White is a co-author of "Exercise Physiology - Human Bioenergetics and its Applications," which has been called the definitive textbook in exercise physiology.

His leadership in national organizations is extensive. In 1995, White served as president of the American College of Sports Medicine, the preeminent interdisciplinary medical and scientific society for exercise science and sports medicine. Last year, he began his tenure as president of the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education.

As dean of the College of Health and Human Performance, White has helped build strong programs in exercise and sport science and public health. The college, though comparatively small in faculty numbers, boasts nationally recognized teaching and research programs in bone health, public health specialties, health care administration, movement studies in disability, and teacher preparation.

Jeff McCubbin, associate dean of the College of Health and Human Performance, has been interim dean of the college since January. He will continue in that position while the university begins a formal search, White said.

The announcement of White's selection concludes a national search.