Purdue Provost Lands New Gig

The provost of Purdue University is leaving to become the chancellor of Rutgers University – New Brunswick in New Jersey. Deba Dutta (pictured), who also serves as executive vice president of academic affairs and diversity, will begin his new role July 1. He joined Purdue in 2014 after serving as dean of the Graduate College at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Purdue says an internal search for a new provost will begin at the start of the next academic year. Purdue Dean of Agriculture Jay Akridge will serve as interim provost, while Karen Plaut, senior associate dean for research and faculty affairs in the College of Agriculture will take Akridge’s place on an interim basis.