EWU names new provost as university confronts major budget challenges

Eastern Washington University has named Brian Levin-Stankevich as its new provost and vice president for academic affairs after David May left the position to serve as interim president.

Levin-Stankevich previously served in various leadership roles at EWU from 1995 to 2006, including a year as interim president and three years as provost.

“During his previous time at Eastern he was known for his ability to forge strong relationships between faculty and administrators, while keeping students at the forefront of the mission,” May said in a statement Tuesday. “I know he will bring those same attributes back to Cheney at this critical time.”

May, who is serving a two-year term as interim president, replaced Mary Cullinan when she resigned from the post in early August. Cullinan had been under pressure from faculty leaders who criticized her administration’s handling of fiscal challenges, including enrollment declines, spending on athletic programs and the university’s early response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has prompted layoffs and a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall.

During his first stint at EWU, Levin-Stankevich helped the university win state approval for new degree programs, including a doctoral program in physical therapy, a master’s program in occupational therapy and a bachelor’s program in electrical engineering.

Levin-Stankevich also has served as interim provost of Xavier University in Cincinnati, interim provost of Northern Arizona University, president of Westminster College in Salt Lake City and chancellor of the University of Wisconsin’s Eau Claire campus. Most recently he has worked as a research professor in the University of New Mexico’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Brian Donahue, currently serving as EWU’s interim provost, will return to his job as vice provost when Levin-Stankevich begins his three-year term on Sept. 21.