College of Dental Medicine Dean becomes WesternU’s Interim Provost

College of Dental Medicine (CDM) Dean Steven W. Friedrichsen, DDS, is now Interim Provost of Western University of Health Sciences. He will also maintain his duties as CDM dean.

Friedrichsen will serve as interim provost on a part-time basis, taking over some of the duties of Provost and Chief Operating Officer Gary M. Gugelchuk, PhD, who took on the role of Interim President when Founding President Philip Pumerantz retired Sept. 8, 2015.

“(Dr. Friedrichsen’s) experience serving as dean at two institutions and chairing WesternU’s Deans Council has positioned him well to undertake this important task,” Gugelchuk said. “In his capacity as Interim Provost, he will be responsible for providing oversight and support to all nine colleges of the University and to the academic support units.”

WesternU contracted with Academic Search Inc. to conduct its presidential search, which is ongoing.