The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the appointment of Douglas Cavener as the next dean of the Eberly College of Science at its meeting in Beaver on Friday. Cavener, a professor and head of biology, has filled the role of interim dean since January when former dean Daniel Larson announced that he’ll head Ecuador’s first research university.

At the meeting, Provost Nick Jones gave a brief background of Cavener and his research. Cavener has worked at Penn State since 2000, and since 2012, he’s been an adjunct professor of life sciences at the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology in Tanzania. His research, which has received support from both the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, focuses on regulation of metabolic and neurological processes that are particularly prone to maladaptations that lead to diseases such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s diseases.

Cavener is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His honors include the Dobzhansky Prize from International Society for the Study of Evolution and the National Research Service Award.

“After a comprehensive nationwide candidate search, I am confident that Doug is exceptionally well qualified for this role and the ideal person to fill it,” Jones said. “His mantra is to pursue excellence in everything that we do and to emphasize the integration of teaching and research. I am confident that Doug will further Penn State’s recognition as having one of the United States most renowned colleges of science.”

Congratulations to Cavener on the promotion.