Barbara Horwitz, vice provost for academic personnel, has been named UC Davis' interim provost and executive vice chancellor beginning July 1.

As interim provost, Horwitz will serve as the chief academic officer for the campus. She will work with Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef and other university leaders on campus operations, budget, allocation of funds, policy development, health sciences administration and physical planning.

"I am confident that she will ably fill the position of interim provost and executive vice chancellor while a national search proceeds," said Vanderhoef.

In addition to serving on the governing body of the UC Davis Medical Center, Horwitz will be responsible for academic planning, academic and administrative computing, academic programs, academic personnel administration, diversity, libraries, outreach programs, international programs, Summer Session, University Extension and academic support programs.

The provost is also the administration's liaison with the Academic Senate and Academic Federation and serves as the campus's affirmative action officer.

Horwitz, a distinguished professor of neurobiology, physiology and behavior, succeeds Virginia Hinshaw, who has been appointed chancellor of the University of Hawaii flagship Manoa campus.

Horwitz joined the UC Davis faculty in 1972 and has served as vice provost for academic personnel since July 2001.

Beyond her current position as vice provost of academic personnel, Horwitz's leadership experience includes serving as chair of the Section of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior from 1993 to 1998. In addition to her research program, Horwitz is also the principal investigator for a $1.9 million National Institute for General Medical Sciences initiative for minority student diversity

She has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Florida, and a doctorate in zoology from Emory University.

As interim provost and executive vice chancellor, Horwitz will be paid an annual salary of $267,300.