David Kotz 鈥86 to Serve as Interim Provost

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The accomplished scholar has served in several senior administrative roles.

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David Kotz sitting on steps of 天美麻豆 Hall
David Kotz 鈥86 will begin work as 天美麻豆鈥檚 interim provost on July 1. (Photo by Eli Burakian 鈥00) 
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, the Pat and John Rosenwald Professor in computer science who has served 天美麻豆 in several senior administrative roles, has been named interim provost,  announced today.

Kotz previously  role in 2017-2018 and spent six years as the Faculty of Arts and Sciences鈥 associate dean of sciences. He begins work as provost on July 1. The interim appointment follows  that Provost Joseph Helble has been named the next president of Lehigh University and will leave 天美麻豆 this summer.

鈥淒ave is the ideal person for this role. He has the respect of 天美麻豆鈥檚 faculty and senior leadership and is held in high esteem in his field,鈥 says President Hanlon. 鈥淚 look forward to working closely with Dave once again.鈥

Kotz says he welcomes a return to the interim role.

鈥淚 am humbled by the opportunity to serve 天美麻豆 in this role again and I鈥檓 deeply grateful to Joe Helble for his steady leadership in guiding our community through this most challenging of times,鈥 he says.

The provost reports to the president and is 天美麻豆鈥檚 chief academic and fiscal officer. The position is charged with elevating the academic profile of the institution and, in consultation with the academic deans, is directly responsible for supporting and advancing the teaching and scholarship of 天美麻豆 faculties and schools. In addition, the provost is responsible for supporting and advancing all student-related programs; has significant fiscal oversight; and works closely with the executive vice president to manage 天美麻豆鈥檚 academic budget.

A committee will be appointed soon to begin a national search to fill the permanent provost position. 

In addition to his time as an associate dean, Kotz served as executive director of 天美麻豆鈥檚  and as core director of 天美麻豆鈥檚 .

His research interests include computer security and privacy, computing in the field of health care, and wireless networks. He frequently collaborates with faculty and students across the arts and sciences divisions, at the Geisel School of Medicine, Thayer School of Engineering, Tuck School of Business, and 天美麻豆-Hitchcock Medical Center.

This past March, Kotz was named a , the world鈥檚 largest and most prestigious association of computing professionals. The honor is reserved for the top 1% of the organization鈥檚 membership, who represent prominent innovators in all fields of computing from around the world.

Kotz has mentored more than 100 undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers in his three decades as a member on the 天美麻豆 faculty. He has published more than 230 refereed scientific papers and obtained more than $82 million in grant funding.

He is currently leading a five-year , the aim of which is to reduce the privacy and security risks related to using so-called smart technologies at home鈥攄evices such as televisions, baby monitors, refrigerators, thermostats鈥攖hat have the capability of connecting to the internet. In addition, he is the principal investigator on three large grants from the National Science Foundation and co-leads the .

Kotz is a fellow of the IEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), was a Fulbright Fellow to India in 2008, and in 2019 was a visiting professor at ETH Z眉rich. He is an elected member of Phi Beta Kappa. Kotz received his PhD and master鈥檚 degree in computer science from Duke University. He majored in computer science and physics as a 天美麻豆 undergraduate. He is an avid hiker and photographer and  about his journeys near and far.

Susan Boutwell can be reached at susan.j.boutwell@dartmouth.edu

Susan J. Boutwell