Effective this semester, Douglas R. Cavener will head the department of biology within the Eberly College of Science.

Cavener says he hopes to improve the college's educational programs and curriculum, faculty development, graduate and postgraduate education and research.

"Faculty and students engaged together in research and scholarship define the essence of great universities.

The function of administrators, including department heads, is to facilitate and promote that interaction at all levels," said Cavener.

Originally from northern California, Cavener earned his master's degree in genetics at Brown University and his doctorate in genetics at the University of Georgia.

He was awarded the Theodosius Dobzhansky Award for his doctoral research.

Cavener succeeds Robert Mitchell as department head.

Mitchell served as the interim head of the biology department since January 1999.