Hank Lazer Named Associate Provost at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Alabama Provost and Executive Vice President Judy Bonner has announced the promotion of Dr. Hank Lazer to associate provost for academic affairs effective Aug. 16. Lazer has served as assistant vice president for undergraduate programs and services since 1998.

In his new position, Lazer will be responsible for the Creative Campus initiative, as well as overseeing the University of Alabama Press, Alabama Heritage magazine, and the University Museums. He will also continue to handle a number of his previous areas of responsibility, including the Office for Disability Services, representing Academic Affairs on various NCAA committees, and coordinating events such as the Capstone Convocation and the new faculty orientation.

Creative Campus, an initiative begun in May 2005, is a student-centered project to expand and extend the impact of the cultural arts on and off campus. Lazer will be moving from the Rose Administration building to Maxwell Hall (the old observatory), which will become the new headquarters for Creative Campus.

Lazer, a professor of English, has been at The University of Alabama since 1977. From 1992 to 1998, he served as assistant dean for humanities and fine arts in the College of Arts and Sciences. As assistant vice president, he helped to develop Capstone Scholars Day, the Math Technology Learning Center, the Advisors Council, the UA Arts Council, Freshman Seminars, Active and Collaborative Learning grants for faculty, and the UA Freshman Connection and the UA Family Connection. In 2006, he received the Walter R. Guyton Award for distinguished service to students at The University of Alabama.

Lazer has published 12 books of poetry, most recently The New Spirit (Singing Horse, 2005), Elegies & Vacations (Salt, 2004), and Days (Lavender Ink, 2002). He has given poetry readings and talks in the United States, France, Canada, China and Spain. His poetry has been nominated for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize and the 2004 Forward Prize. With Charles Bernstein, he edits the Modern and Contemporary Poetics Series for the University of Alabama Press. Lazer has collaborated with UA choreographer Cornelius Carter, and he is currently working with UA musicians Tom Wolfe and Chris Kozak on a jazz improvisation suite based on The New Spirit, as well as with visual artist Pak on a series of poem-paintings.