Dr. Earle Traynham will temporarily hold office as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs while the university searches for a permanent replacement.

According to a UNF Media Relations press release, Traynham will be filling in for the previous provost, Dr. Mark Workmann, who recently decided to return to a faculty position.

“I love the university, I spent my entire career there,” Traynham said. “I enjoyed my 35 years there, and I’m excited to come back. I enjoy retirement too, so it’s a good position to be offered.”

Traynham said he has been teaching for three weeks each summer during his retirement, usually in Bad Mergentheim, Germany.

Dr. Tom Serwatka, vice president and chief of staff, said that Traynham fit the position perfectly.

“There were several people who are currently employed that would fit,” Serwatka said. “Then the president thought we could bring an ex-dean, who everybody respected, and bring him back.”

Traynham’s UNF career began as a founding faculty member, starting as an assistant instructor in 1973. In 1983, Traynham became director of graduate studies, and chair of the department of economics in 1987. He later became interim dean of Coggin College in 1993, and then was appointed dean in 1994.

Serwatka estimated that the full-time replacement will be hired by May of next year.

Email Alex Wilson at reporter15@unfspinnaker.com