Prof. Trenery Dolbear (IBS) was named interim dean of the International Business School until a new dean is appointed, University Provost Marty Krauss said Friday. Dolbear, who is also an undergraduate professor in economics, assumed the post Sept. 1, and has been with IBS since it opened in 1994.

"I'm happy to do what I can to keep the school going until we get a new dean," Dolbear said, adding that his years of administrative experience, including serving as the director of IBS admissions, the director of the master's program in international economics and finance and the chair of the undergraduate economics department "off and on," make him a suitable interim dean.

Prof. Peter Petri (IBS), the founding IBS dean, resigned at the end of August, and is currently on sabbatical in Europe.

Prof. Benjamin Gomes Casseres (IBS), who chairs the IBS dean search committee, declined to comment on the search.

Dolbear said while the timetable for his temporary position is unclear, he certainly doesn't intend for it to be permanent.

"I'm hopeful that we'll get somebody sooner rather than later," he said. "I'm just doing the best I can until we do something differently.