Shew, who is Ada Rittenhouse Snavely Professor of Biology, will begin his new duties June 1 following the retirement of longtime Provost and Dean of the College Dr. Irvin Penfield.

“Dr. Shew is a highly respected member of our faculty who has a wealth of academic and administrative experience and we will greatly benefit from his leadership and integrity during this period of transition,” said BSC President Dr. Neal Berte, who is retiring June 30 after nearly 29 years at the college.

Berte said that Dr. David Pollick, president-elect of Birmingham-Southern who will take office in early July, worked with the chairs of the elected committees of the faculty and of the six academic divisions in the process of selecting the interim provost.

Pollick, who will be Birmingham-Southern’s 12th president, said that the college will conduct a national search during the upcoming academic year for a permanent provost.