The head of agricultural and biological engineering at Mississippi State is being named associate provost for academic affairs at the university.
Jerome A. Gilbert's appointment was announced today [Dec. 17] by Provost Peter Rabideau. His promotion becomes effective in January with the beginning of the spring semester, pending approval by the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning.
Agricultural and biological engineering department head since 1996, Gilbert succeeds George Rent, who is returning to the department of sociology, anthropology and social work. Rent served as associate provost for seven years.
A Jackson native, Gilbert completed his bachelor's degree in biological engineering from MSU in 1977. Five years later, he received a doctorate in the major at Duke University.
After a year as visiting assistant professor of mechanical engineering at North Carolina State University, he joined the University of North Carolina as assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and biomedical engineering. He returned to MSU in 1988.
He became department head at his Mississippi alma mater after a year as its interim head. For the past two years, he also has been coordinator of the department's biomedical engineering graduate program.
"We are very fortunate to have individuals of the caliber of Dr. Gilbert at Mississippi State," Rabideau said. "I am very excited about having him join the Office of Academic Affairs.
"At the same time, we will miss Dr. George Rent, who has made invaluable contributions to the office and to administration at MSU," Rabideau added.
