University of Idaho Announces Leadership Changes Amid Transitions

Torrey Lawrence, the current provost of the University of Idaho (UI), will step down from his position, effective June 2024. This announcement came via an email from UI President Scott Green on January 28, 2024. Lawrence will transition to a faculty role within the university after his departure as provost.

Lawrence’s tenure as provost began in March 2020 when he was appointed as interim provost. He later secured the permanent role following a national search. President Green acknowledged Lawrence’s significant contributions, stating that he helped guide the university “through some of our greatest challenges, including budget cuts, COVID-19, new budget models, the heinous capital crime on King Street, the University of Phoenix opportunity, institutional reaccreditation and, most recently, our strategic planning process.”

In light of this leadership change, an internal search for an interim provost will commence in the coming weeks. This development follows another significant shift within the university’s administration. Last month, Dean of the College of Law Aviva Abramovsky announced her resignation to become the president and CEO of the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada.

In the interim, Diane Kelly-Riley, the vice provost for faculty, will take on the role of acting dean for the College of Law until a new interim dean is appointed. The university has engaged the national search firm Buffkin/Baker to assist in the process of hiring a new dean for the College of Law.

These transitions reflect ongoing changes within the University of Idaho’s leadership structure, as the institution seeks to navigate challenges and plan for future growth. The focus will be on ensuring stability and continuity in leadership during this period of change.