Arlie Petters selected Provost of NYU Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, 24th July, 2020 (WAM) -- NYU Abu Dhabi Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann today announced the appointment of Dr. Arlie O. Petters, the Benjamin Powell Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at Duke University, and former Dean of Academic Affairs for Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at Duke - as the Provost of NYU Abu Dhabi, effective 1st September, 2020.

The selection follows a comprehensive, wide-ranging, nine-month global search that sought input from across the NYU community to identify a strategic academic leader who would nurture and advance the educational and research mission and build on NYUAD’s bedrock of excellence.

"Arlie’s distinguished scholarly qualifications, leadership experience, knowledge of international education, research breadth, commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, focus on students, deep understanding of academic excellence and integrity and energy give me great confidence that he will serve the university well in his role as provost," Westermann said.

"He will provide outstanding academic leadership as we embark on NYU Abu Dhabi’s second decade of growth and accomplishment. It will be inspiring and rewarding to work with Arlie as we advance our resolutely international model of liberal arts education and address the complex challenges we face today," she added.

Petters commented, "Within ten years, NYU Abu Dhabi has developed a world-class, innovative liberal arts and sciences undergraduate programme and premier interdisciplinary research environment. It has created a collaborative culture of global citizenry among its excellent students, faculty, and staff. It has fostered diversity, inclusion, cultural competency, empathy, and openness. It has become a university in and of the city of Abu Dhabi. This gravitational pull of NYUAD was simply irresistible. I am delighted to serve under Mariët’s amazing leadership driving NYUAD onwards and upwards, to take its place among the world’s great universities."