Beginning July 1, Prof. Irving Epstein (CHEM) will become the interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, according to an email Provost Lisa Lynch sent to the community on May 7. 

Epstein previously served as provost from 1994 to 2001  under former University President Jehuda Reinharz. He was recently a senior advisor to former Provost Steve Goldstein and was the interim Vice Provost for Research under Lynch. 

Epstein will fill the position as Lynch, the current provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, will become the interim University president next year due to the resignation of current University President Frederick Lawrence. 

“Irv is a widely respected researcher, an innovative educator and an experienced administrator, making him ideally suited for this position,” Lynch wrote in the email. “I am delighted that he has agreed to take on such an important role for the next academic year.”

Epstein is the Henry F. Fischbach Professor of Chemistry and has been teaching at the University since 1971. He worked to bring the first Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Posse to the University. According to the University’s information page for Posse, the program is “a merit-based scholarship program,” and the Science Posse “encourages students to pursue the sciences.” According to Lynch’s email, Epstein was also named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor for his “pioneering ideas to increase diversity in the sciences,” which includes targeting students from New York and Atlanta through the Posse program. Epstein will leave his current position as the interim dean of research. Administrators are interviewing the last finalist next week and hope to make a selection "shortly after that," he wrote in an email to the Justice.  

Lynch first asked if Epstein would be willing to serve as interim Provost earlier this year when Lawrence announced his departure from the University, Epstein wrote in an email to the Justice. Before the decision could be announced, both the Faculty Senate and the Board of Trustees needed to approve it. 

“I hope to continue the very positive steps that have been taken over the past several years to strengthen research and teaching at Brandeis,” Epstein wrote. “In particular, I plan to work closely with the new Vice Provost for Research … to improve support for research across the university, to work with the Center for Teaching and Learning as well as other units to champion both new and traditional approaches to outstanding teaching, and to … work together [with community members] to make Brandeis an even better institution.”

Epstein also wrote that he believes this period is “one of the most exciting” in his 44 years at the University.

“In addition to outstanding faculty, staff and students, the university is now on a sound financial footing, and there is a sense of optimism as we search for our next president,” he wrote. “I look forward to serving in this position and to helping to facilitate the transition to the next stage in the life of the university.”

Though he was scheduled to teach a General Chemistry class, 11b, next year, Epstein wrote that the “many responsibilities of serving as provost are not compatible with teaching a class of 200-250 students,” and as such, he will return to teaching once he has completed his term.

Epstein wrote that he expects to hold the position until the Presidential Search Committee selects a new University president and Lynch returns to the Provost position.