Brian Burton named associate vice president for academic affairs; Deb Jusak to be special assistant to provost

Brian Burton and Deb Jusak will assume new roles within Western's Academic Affairs Division, Provost Brent Carbajal announced today. Burton, current dean of the College of Business and Economics, will be appointed associate vice president for Academic Affairs, and Jusak will be special assistant to the Provost. Both will start their positions on Sept. 30.

"I very much look forward to working with both Dr. Burton and Dr. Jusak in their new roles. Both have considerable experience and skills that will help the Provost's Office serve Academic Affairs and the university,” Carbajal said. “I'm excited about this restructuring and believe that it represents an important step forward in staffing and organizing the academic administrative portfolio for success and effectiveness."

Among other duties and responsibilities, Burton will head up the Academic Budget Office, will oversee a number of staff and interdisciplinary programs, and will coordinate strategic planning with the provost. In this restructuring, the position of vice provost for Academic Resources, now held by Jusak, is being eliminated. Jusak's new position has responsibilities in space/capital planning and administration, policy development and implementation, data management and special projects.

Burton will be stepping aside as CBE dean, and an interim dean will be appointed. A national search for a permanent CBE dean will take place this year.

“I am very excited about the great opportunities afforded by this position to serve the entire university,” Burton said. “I also will offer all possible assistance to help lead the CBE during this time of transition.”