Boston College’s Provost and Dean of Faculties Cutberto Garza announced on May 6 that he will be stepping down from his position on June 30 of this year. He will take a yearlong leave of absence from the University and will return to BC as a professor in the fall of 2014.
Garza has served as Provost and Dean of Faculties for eight years. He arrived at BC in July of 2005 after serving as vice-provost of Cornell University.
Before his term as an administrator, Garza had considerable experience in the field of health sciences. After graduating from Baylor University with a B.S. in chemistry, Garza earned his M.D. from Baylor College of Medicine in 1973 and a Ph.D. in nutrition and food science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976.
According to a press release issued by the Office of News and Public Affairs, Garza maintained his academic interests while at BC. “During his service as Provost, Garza served as a member or chair of technical advisory groups for the National Academies of Science, the World Health Organization, World Food Program and other national and international organizations,” the release read. “He was a key organizer of three international symposia on topics related to nutrition and health, and was recognized for his research and public service with the American Society for Nutrition’s Conrad A. Elvehjem Award for Public Service in Nutrition in 2008 and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Samuel J. Fomon Nutrition Award in 2011.”
“Serving as Boston College’s chief academic officer since 2005 has been a personal privilege,” said Garza in the press release. “I have learned much and enjoyed working with faculty, administrative colleagues, students and alumni to sustain BC’s remarkable trajectory. I look forward to working in my new role in support of the same goal.”
University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J. has named Joseph Quinn, a professor in the economics department and the former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, as the Interim Provost, effective from July 1 until a permanent replacement for Garza is found. The search for the University’s next Provost will begin immediately.
