The University of Minnesota announced today its third candidate to become senior vice president for academic affairs and provost: Dr. Allen S. Levine, dean of the UniversityâÄôs College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.

A public forum with Levine is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 15 from 1:30 âÄì 3 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Campus Club in Coffman Union (Rooms, A, B, and C).

Levine is the second candidate to be selected from within the University. He has been dean of CFANS since November 2006, where he oversees 1,800 undergraduate students and 760 graduate students as well as 275 faculty and 795 staff.

 After receiving his undergraduate degree in botany from Rutgers University in 1970, Levine came to the University of Minnesota and received his masterâÄôs degree in botany in 1973 and his Ph.D. in nutrition in 1977.

He has held a variety of positions at the University since 1980 within medical and natural science fields.  

Thursday, Levine will present his perspective on challenges facing public higher education, followed by a question-and-answer period open to the entire University community.

The provost search committee is expected to name the next provost by October.