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CORVALLIS - Roy G. Arnold, provost and executive vice president of Oregon State University, said today he will leave that position at the end of the year for another in the College of Agricultural Sciences at OSU.

In a series of conversations with academic deans and members of the President's Cabinet, Arnold said he was ready for a change in assignment.

"I initially accepted this role as a two-year appointment, which was later extended," Arnold said. "I have now served in it for eight years, working closely for four years each with two outstanding university presidents, and many outstanding faculty leaders and administrative colleagues. "I have appreciated and enjoyed the opportunity to serve Oregon State University through a period of challenge and dramatic change," Arnold said. "This is a growing, dynamic institution that's taking positive steps toward its future. This momentum, and the opportunity to work with President Risser and the leadership team he has developed, make this an excellent time to attract strong candidates for the provost and executive vice president position. Fresh perspectives are essential to maintaining the vitality of a university.

"Personal change is also important and has been a pattern throughout my career," Arnold said. "During my 32 years in higher education, I have held several different faculty and administrative roles, but none as long as I have served as provost at OSU. Now I am looking forward to a new assignment in the college that is my academic home, agricultural sciences." Thayne R. Dutson, dean of agricultural sciences, said he has invited Arnold to join his college's administration as executive associate dean.

"Roy Arnold has served with distinction as the provost and executive vice president of Oregon State," OSU President Paul G. Risser said after Arnold announced his plans. "During these four years, Roy has become a special friend to me. He anticipates issues, always provides superb guidance and counsel, and all of us are indebted to his honesty, integrity, dignity, and professionalism.

"Roy has earned wide respect for his leadership during a period of major institutional change," Risser said. "Among the changes during his watch are those that have affected how the University carries out its extension and extended education, the criteria by which faculty are evaluated for promotion and tenure, how we are organized, and the adoption of several important and innovative new OSU academic programs."

Dutson said his college already had been working to create an executive associate dean position before learning that Arnold might be interested in a change of assignment.

"When we saw the prospect that Roy Arnold might return to agricultural sciences, we recognized a great match between what we needed and Roy Arnold's knowledge and experience," Dutson said.

Arnold will move to the executive associate dean post on January 17.

Arnold was dean of agricultural sciences from 1987 to 1991. Prior to that he was vice chancellor for agriculture and natural resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Arnold is a food scientist with degrees in that field from the University of Nebraska and OSU. He is a fellow and past president of the 28,000-member Institute of Food Technologists, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a recipient of two distinguished teaching awards.