Henry C. "Hank" Foley, dean of Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology, was appointed vice president for research and dean of the graduate school at this afternoon's Board of Trustees meeting.

Foley will assume the position in January of 2010, when Eva Pell, who currently holds the dual position, will take over the role of Undersecretary of Science at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Pell announced she would be leaving the university in August.

After Penn State President Graham Spanier said Foley has the "vision and commitment" necessary for the role, Foley said he was honored to succeed Pell.

"I do feel a burden of humility following in her footsteps," he said.

Read Monday's issue of the Daily Collegian for more details.