Antel is expected to assume this position Feb. 1. His appointment is subject to approval by the UH System Board of Regents at its next meeting.
Antel has been dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLASS) at UH since July 2002. CLASS is the largest college on the UH campus, with 290 tenure and tenure-track faculty, 28 departments and programs, 8,000 undergraduate majors and a budget of about $40 million. As dean, he continued to teach and conduct research in labor economics, health economics and applied statistics at the University of Houston.
"I am delighted to have Dr. Antel as a key member of my leadership team as we continue to build momentum toward becoming a top-tier research university," Khator said. "Dr. Antel is highly respected in the academic world as a researcher and as an administrator, and he has a proven track record of promoting academic excellence and student success. Throughout his tenure as dean, his leadership in strategic planning and budgeting, program review, external fundraising, and the design of administrative and governance structures has been outstanding."
"I also want to thank Dr. Jerald Strickland for his admirable service as interim provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs," Khator said. "Dr. Strickland has ably served the university on two occasions in this role, and his guidance and leadership have greatly benefited our students and faculty."
In addition to overseeing faculty hiring, promotion and tenure, the provost works with faculty to effect curriculum development and collaborates with other vice presidents to integrate physical and technological innovations in classrooms.
From state policy to university planning, from scholarships to individuals studying abroad, the provost works to promote excellence within the university.
"I see the office of the provost as critical to our future," Antel said. "Big ideas are necessary, but we also need accountability and results. I look forward to building an effective administrative team, creating strong internal and external relationships and working hard to build world-class instructional and research programs at the University of Houston."
Antel first joined UH as an assistant professor of economics in 1981. He was named an associate professor in 1988 and became a full professor in 1995. Among his numerous leadership roles, he chaired the economics department from 1997 to 2002 and, since 2004, has chaired the Undergraduate Enrollment Management Taskforce. He served on the University of Houston Academic Senate Executive Committee from 1999 to 2002. Antel came to the university after working as a consultant in labor and population studies for the Rand Corp. from 1976 to 1986.
Antel holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of California at Los Angeles. He received a bachelor of arts degree in economics from the University of California at Berkeley. He was selected "Educator of the Year" by the South Texas Air Force Association for the successful development of the UH Air Force ROTC program.
Antel was selected as provost following a national search. Led by chair and psychology Professor David Francis, the 18-member search committee identified him as one of the four top candidates in their recommendation to Chancellor Khator.
Antel and his wife, Susan, have two sons.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A photo is available at: http://www.uh.edu/news-events/news-photos/011309provost-announcement
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
The University of Houston System is the state's only metropolitan higher education system, encompassing four universities and two multi-institution teaching centers. The universities are the University of Houston, a nationally recognized doctoral degree-granting, comprehensive research university; the University of Houston-Downtown, a four-year undergraduate university beginning limited expansion into graduate programs; and the University of Houston-Clear Lake and the University of Houston-Victoria, both upper division and master's-level institutions. The centers are the UH System at Sugar Land in Fort Bend and the UH System at Cinco Ranch. In addition, the UH System includes KUHF-FM, Houston's National Public Radio and classical radio station, and KUHT-TV, the nation's first educational television station.