Deputy provost to step down, return to teaching in Dec.

Wales has held post for two years Deputy Provost Walter Wales will step down from his post and return to teaching in December, the Provost's Office announced yesterday. Wales, a physics professor, has been deputy provost for the past two years. In a letter to Wales dated April 12, Interim Provost Marvin Lazerson praised him for his "experience, wisdom, patience and good humor." As deputy provost, one of Wales' primary responsibilities was monitoring personnel issues throughout the University, particularly grievances. This frequently meant Wales had to intervene in hostile situations. Lazerson noted in the letter that Wales was often frustrated by the complicated issues brought to his office, but that Wales has "made a difference and for the better." Wales' decision to resign was not a surprise, Lazerson said last night. "Dr. Wales has wanted to get back to the Physics Department for a long time and this represents an opportunity for him to do that while staying on until December to ease the transition for a new administration," Lazerson said. "He's done enormous work in helping me to survive the year." Wales has also been instrumental in guiding other administrators, faculty, staff and students, Lazerson's letter states. Wales became deputy provost on July 1, 1992, succeeding Richard Clelland who held the post for 10 years. Former Provost Michael Aiken selected Wales after a campus-wide search. Wales joined the University faculty in 1959, becoming a full professor in 1972. He has served as chairperson of the Faculty Senate and has served as acting dean of the School of Arts and Sciences twice. He won the SAS Ira Abrams Memorial Award in 1990. Wales has also conducted research in high-energy physics and was associate director of the Princeton-Penn Accelerator from 1968 to 1971. Wales will leave office on December 31. He could not be reached for comment yesterday.