Dr. Jeffrey R. Seemann and Dr. Antonio Cepeda-Benito were confirmed Friday as Texas A&M University’s new vice president for research and dean of faculties and associate provost, respectively, upon the recommendation of University President Elsa Murano. Formal approval of the two key appointments was given by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.

Seemann, who currently holds key administrative, research and service positions at the University of Rhode Island, is scheduled to join the Texas A&M administration July 1.

In announcing her intent to recommend Dr. Seemann for the key vice presidency, Murano said: “We are obviously pleased with the prospect of having someone of the caliber of Dr. Seemann serve in this extremely important position on our campus. I am confident that he can effectively build on our strengths as one of the nation’s top research universities, while also providing visionary leadership for the evolving strategic development, implementation and communication of research, scholarship, and graduate studies at Texas A&M.”

He presently serves as dean of the College of the Environment and Life Sciences at the University of Rhode Island as well as director of the Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. He has held all three positions since 2001.

Dr. Seemann will succeed Dr. Theresa A. Maldonado, who has served as interim vice president for research since Oct. 1, 2008, and who will continue to serve as executive associate vice president.

Cepeda-Benito, a member of the Texas A&M faculty for the past 15 years, holds the rank of professor of psychology and has served as associate dean of faculties and faculty ombudsperson since 2006. He succeeds Dr. Karan Watson, who was recently promoted to vice provost. Dr. Paul Parrish, professor of English, has served as interim dean of faculties and associate provost since the first of the year and will return to his faculty position.

When announcing that Cepeda-Benito was her choice for the position, Murano said: “I have the utmost confidence in Dr. Cepeda-Benito’s ability to provide the leadership necessary to continue our progress in recruiting and retaining a high quality, diverse faculty. I look forward to working with him as we continue to facilitate an environment where each faculty member can achieve his or her maximum potential.”

Cepeda-Benito, whose appointment is effective immediately, has progressed through the professorial ranks at Texas A&M, having joined the faculty as an assistant professor in 1994.

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