New provost ready to tackle problems at U.

Provost Stanley Chodorow said his transition to the University has been full of learning about his job -- and adjusting to an overwhelming workload. "My desk is covered to a depth of three feet," Chodorow said in July, two weeks after taking over for former interim Provost Marvin Lazerson. "I've been thinking about taking a degree in archaeology in order to deal with this mess -- there's so much to learn, it's enough to give me a nervous breakdown." But Chodorow said that he is confident that he will be able to succeed in his new position. "First official activities are always stressful," he said. "As I get through things I realize that I'm smart enough, and that I have enough experience." Chodorow had been associate vice chancellor for academic planning at the University of California at San Diego and dean of its School of Arts and Humanities. Chodorow said he has been meeting with Rodin and other officials on a frequent basis since he took over to learn about the challenges the administration is currently facing -- and to get a better sense of what his job as provost entails. "We've had regular meetings trying to sort out what issues need to be dealt with," he said. "None of the issues have changed -- administrative structures and undergraduate education [are examples]." Although Chodorow said that the "size of the bureaucracy" at the University is a challenge he faces as provost, he said he was particularly surprised during his first days in office to realize the complexity of the administrative structure. Executive Assistant to the Provost Linda Koons said in July that she had a very favorable opinion of Chodorow. "He's a very interesting man," she said. "He has a wonderful sense of humor, he's very quick and you can tell from the kinds of questions he asks." Lazerson described his year in the provost's office as being both enjoyable and difficult. "We started a very exciting dialogue on the campus about what undergraduate education should be," he said. "And I think that will continue."