Carnegie Mellon University expects by fall to begin a presidential search, but in the meantime, its leadership has named provost Farnam Jahanian as interim president, CMU trustees chairman James Rohr told the campus Wednesday.
The announcement comes two weeks after Subra Suresh, the university’s ninth president, said he was stepping down June 30, four years into his tenure.
Mr. Jahanian currently serves as provost and chief academic officer. In an email to the campus, Mr. Rohr said the interim leader “will bring to the president’s office deep understanding of the university’s strengths and opportunities, strong and collaborative relations with the deans, vice presidents and other campus leaders.”
Mr. Jahanian has broad support among faculty, students and alumni, Mr. Rohr said.
“He has had an enormous impact at CMU as provost, showing vision, commitment and passion for the future of this institution. Dr. Jahanian will provide Carnegie Mellon with energetic and capable leadership, so we can continue to build on our extraordinary momentum,” Mr. Rohr said in his statement.
Mr. Jahanian is a computer scientist, entrepreneur and administrative leader with wide experience in higher education, government and the private sector, university officials said. Mr. Jahanian arrived at Carnegie Mellon in 2014 as vice president for research and became provost a year later.
In his position as provost, he has been charged with leading Carnegie Mellon’s colleges, schools, institutes and campuses. He also is heavily involved in long-range institutional and academic planning and in budgeting that supports those goals, university officials said.
He was involved in implementing the university’s strategic plan, a document developed over many months that includes bolstering the CMU experience for students, faculty, staff and alumni, those officials said.
Mr. Jahanian is expected to name an interim provost soon.
In an announcement to campus June 1, Mr. Suresh cited no new position. He said that after discussions with his wife, Mary, he decided the university would be better served by a president able to make the extended commitment needed for endeavors including implementing CMU’s strategic plan.
Before coming to CMU, Mr. Jahanian led the National Science Foundation Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering from 2011 to 2014.
Officials said his efforts involving internet routing stability and security fueled creation of Arbor Networks, a network security company he co-founded in 2001. He served as chairman of that company for nine years until its acquisition.
Mr. Jahanian received a master’s degree in 1987 and a doctoral degree in in 1989, both in computer science, from the University of Texas at Austin, according to his curriculum vitae. In 1982, he received a bachelor of science degree in mathematics, computer science and sytem Design from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
He is a fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Mr. Jahanian has written more than 100 research papers and belonged to dozens of national advisory boards.
CMU officials in their announcement described him as “an active advocate for the critical role of basic research” supporting innovation with commercial and practical applications.
The university said Mr. Jahanian was not available for an interview. But in a statement released by the university Wednesday morning, Mr. Jahanian said he looked forward to his new responsibilities.
“Carnegie Mellon University stands at an extraordinary moment of achievement and potential,” he said.
“With our distinctive culture of creative problem-solving and unbounded ambition, this institution will continue to advance human knowledge and the human condition in a way that only CMU can.”
Jahanian and his wife, Tris, have thee children, including one who is an undergraduate at CMU.
Mr. Rohr said the search for a permanent successor to Mr. Suresh begins this fall. Mr. Suresh’s departure is effective at the end of this month.
Bill Schackner: bschackner@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1977 and on Twitter; @BschacknerPG.
First Published: June 14, 2017, 2:32 p.m.
Updated: June 14, 2017, 5:03 p.m.
