Dr. G. Wayne Clough, president of the Georgia Institute of Technology, today appointed Dr. Gary B. Schuster provost succeeding Dr. Jean Lou Chameau who has been named president of the California Institute of Technology. The provost is the Institute's chief academic officer.

Schuster, 60, has been dean of the Georgia Tech College of Sciences and professor of chemistry since 1994. In addition, he was named Vasser Woolley chair of chemistry and biochemistry at Georgia Tech in 2001.

"I am pleased that Dr. Schuster has agreed to accept the position of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Georgia Tech," Clough said. "He has had an outstanding career as a teacher and researcher, and that, combined with his long tenure as a school chair at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and as a dean here on our campus, provides him with a clear appreciation of what it takes to be an outstanding provost."

"I am honored to be appointed as Provost at Georgia Tech ," Schuster said. "I am eager to continue to work with colleagues throughout the campus to set high goals and to provide the environment needed to realize those goals."

Throughout his academic career Schuster has been noted for his devotion to academic excellence. His mentoring work with younger faculty, focus on undergraduate success and collegial, interdisciplinary approach have helped substantially increase enrollment in and rankings of the College of Sciences during his tenure.

"I have had the pleasure of working with him for twelve years at Tech, and have admired his innovative and collaborative approach to ideas and his understanding of our goals we have for excellence in our teaching, research and service missions," Clough added.

Schuster has had leading roles in bringing internationally recognized research faculty to the Institute and in the conceptualization and development of the interdisciplinary biotechnology complex at Georgia Tech. He has published more than 250 refereed articles, holds 12 patents and has received numerous fellowships and awards.

Schuster came to Georgia Tech from the University of Illinois where he was head of the Department of Chemistry. He received his B.S. in chemistry from Clarkson College of Technology and Ph.D. from the University of Rochester.