Paul Sarvela was named interim chancellor Tuesday at a special meeting called by the Board of Trustees.

Naming an interim chancellor was the only item on the agenda for the meeting.

Sarvela is the vice president of academic affairs and will continue to work in both positions until a new vice president is named.

Sarvela is a tenured professor who has coauthored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, written multiple textbooks and secured more than $4 million dollars in grants and contracts for the university.