Crabtree Named Provost at Colorado State University

Colorado State University picked a popular, longtime professor and university administrator to lead its academic units, today naming Loren Crabtree provost and academic vice president.

Crabtree, who had served as interim provost, was selected from a field of 65 candidates and will begin his post immediately.

"Loren Crabtree has established himself as a person of integrity and academic excellence in his 30 years at Colorado State, and he has shown that he cares a great deal about this university and the people who learn, teach and work here," said President Albert C. Yates. "Loren enjoys an extraordinary level of respect and support throughout the entire university community. That well-earned respect will be crucial as the university moves forward in reaching its academic goals with Loren serving in a vital leadership role."

Crabtree, who had served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts before becoming interim provost, will focus on a wide range of initiatives at the university. One key goal will be the implementation of the recently approved undergraduate core curriculum. The new core establishes the set of classes and experiences all students – no matter what their major – must have in common before they receive a Colorado State diploma. The core, approved unanimously by the university’s Faculty Council and its governing board, is designed to guarantee a more rigorous, consistent general education for all Colorado State undergraduates.

Crabtree also is charged with leading efforts to make investments in faculty and programs that move the university into the ranks of the nation’s preeminent research universities, enhancing the outreach efforts of the university and fostering a supportive environment for students, faculty and staff.

"It’s a big job, but I look forward to the challenges. I believe Colorado State is poised to make extraordinary changes in the coming years as we work to ensure that we establish and maintain our place as more than a good university, but as a great university," Crabtree said. "During my tenure as interim provost, many people worked very hard for this university. It will take this same kind of commitment from many people to continue the progress we’ve made. I’m looking forward to helping in this effort."

Crabtree, interim provost since 1997, became dean of Colorado State’s College of Liberal Arts in 1991. He joined the faculty in 1967 and has taught more than 20 different courses in history, honors and international education, mostly on contemporary China and on United States-East Asian relations.

Co-author of two books, Crabtree currently is working on two more books and has published many papers, articles and book chapters. He has received two Colorado State awards for his teaching, is listed in the 1997 "Who’s Who in the West," served on more than 40 faculty committees and as assistant and associate liberal arts dean and is past president of the Western conference of the Association of Asian Studies. He holds a doctorate in history and Asian studies from the University of Minnesota.

Crabtree also is planning to teach a history course in the fall semester.

"To fully understand my role at the university, I must understand the challenges and opportunities facing the people that work and learn here," Crabtree said. "I can’t think of a better way to do that than spending time in the classroom with our most important constituents – our students."

As provost, traditionally the second-in-command at the university, Crabtree will earn $146,000.