Acting President Richard Englert, on the behalf of future President Neil Theobald, announced Wednesday the start of an internal search process to find a new provost and senior vice president of academic affairs.

Theobald will take over the role of president beginning on Jan. 1. A search committee formed by the Executive Office of the President and the Department of Human Resources will propose a new candidate to Theobald no later than Feb. 1, according to a press release sent by Englert.

Nominees will be chosen from current tenured professors by a search committee composed of tenured and tenure track professors, deans, a university officer, Student Body President David Lopez or someone of his choosing, one graduate student nominated by the Graduate School, and a non-faculty staff member chosen by Englert.

Candidates are expected to have teaching as well as administrative experience, and experience with funded research projects, according to the press release.

Acting Provost Hai-Lung Dai has served as provost of the university since July 1, when Englert left the position to take over as acting president. The press release did not mention Dai.

Englert said the need to to fill interim dean positions as one of the main reasons for begining the search for a new permanent provost. There are currently five interim or acting deans at four colleges and University Libraries.

“The provost is one of the most important roles in the university, after that of the president. The provost provides vision and leadership for and oversight of our academic units and our core mission,” Englert said.