Marshall University President Brad D. Smith has announced the appointment of Dr. Robert “R.B.” Bookwalter as interim provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, effective July 1. This appointment follows the departure of Dr. Avinandan “Avi” Mukherjee, who will assume the role of executive vice president and provost at Georgia Southern University on the same date.

Bookwalter has been a dedicated member of the Marshall University community since 1987, serving as a faculty member in the Department of Communication Studies. He held the role of coordinator of CMM 103 for 15 years and served as department chair from 2008 to 2010. His scholarly interests include conflict management, interpersonal communication, group process and leadership, and language and discourse analysis.

In June 2010, Bookwalter was appointed interim dean of the College of Education. He served as the interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts in 2013 and was named dean of the College of Liberal Arts in June 2014. During his tenure, he has been instrumental in advancing the college’s academic programs and fostering a student-first philosophy.

In addition to his daily responsibilities, RB has been leading a campus-wide effort to refresh and reimagine the university’s Gen-Ed program and continues to serve as the sponsor of the John Marshall Fellows Program, strengthening the leadership growth and development of high performers across the campus community.

“Dr. Bookwalter’s extensive experience and unwavering commitment to academic excellence make him the ideal choice to guide our academic affairs during this transitional period,” President Smith said. “His deep understanding of our university’s mission and his dedication to our students and faculty will ensure continuity and progress.”

Bookwalter earned his B.A. in Speech Communication from Fresno State University in 1979, his M.A. in Interpersonal Communication from the University of Montana in 1982, and his Ph.D. in Communication Studies from the University of Kansas in 1989.

“I am honored to serve as interim provost and look forward to working collaboratively with our dedicated faculty, staff and students to continue advancing Marshall University’s mission of academic excellence and student success,” Bookwalter said.

A national search for the next provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs will commence later this month, with the goal of bringing finalists to campus by late September and announcing the appointment shortly thereafter. The new provost’s tenure is expected to begin at the start of the Spring 2026 semester.