Simek to speak at UT Martin

The Messenger 09.29.10

Dr. Jan Simek, University of Tennessee interim president, will speak about “The Future of Higher Education in Tennessee” Monday at the University of Tennessee at Martin.
The presentation, set for 7:30 p.m. in Watkins Auditorium of Boling University Center, will be sponsored by UT Martin Honors Programs.
Simek received a bachelor of arts in anthropology from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a master of arts and doctorate in anthropology from the State University of New York at Binghamton.
Trained as an archaeologist, Simek came to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1984 as assistant professor of anthropology and currently holds rank as Distinguished Professor of Anthropology. The author of numerous articles, essays, book chapters and reviews, Simek has carried out archaeological research in diverse places from France to California to Italy to Croatia to Tennessee. To fund his research, he has received many grants from organizations including the National Science Foundation, the National Geographic Society and the French Ministry of Culture.
He has held visiting appointments at the University of Washington, the University of Bordeaux and the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain.
Simek has compiled an outstanding record of service and, in addition to his current role as interim president of the University of Tennessee system, he has served the Knoxville campus in roles as diverse as head of the Anthropology Department, interim director of the School of Art and interim dean of the College of Agriculture and Design.
“Once again, as is indicated by his record above, Dr. Simek has been called upon to assume a leadership position in a time of difficulty. His calm and patient persona has allowed him to lead the university through a difficult period and set us on the course for a successful future in lean times,” said Dr. Dan McDonough, UT Martin Honors programs director. “As he prepares to leave the presidency for a return to the faculty, he can rest assured of the high regard in which he is held by the personnel of the university.”
For more information, contact McDonough at (731) 881-7436.

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