The University of Saskatchewan has appointed an acting provost to replace a man who quit last month during the Robert Buckingham firing controversy.
Ernie Barber, who has been with the university for 33 years, takes on the job July 1. Currently, Barber is the managing director of the Global Institute for Food Security. His replacement is to be named in the coming weeks.
Brett Fairbairn resigned as provost on May 19 in the wake of the controversy that saw Buckingham fired for speaking out about budget cuts at the school then rehired after a national outcry.
Gordon Barnhart, interim president of the university, had nothing but praise for Barber.
"Given Ernie's long history at the university, including serving once already as acting provost, I know he will help us stabilize and move forward over the important year ahead as we continue to enhance our academic excellence and strive for financial sustainability," Barnhart said Monday in a release.
Barber has also served as dean of both the college of agriculture and the college of engineering.
