Mark W. Huddleston has been named associate provost for international programs and special sessions, effective Oct. 1, President David P. Roselle and Provost Mel Schiavelli have announced.

"Mark Huddleston brings a wealth of international experience and a clear vision for promoting international programs and special sessions in the University. I appreciate his willingness to assume the leadership of this very important University program," Provost Schiavelli said.

As associate provost for international programs and special sessions (IPSS), Huddleston is responsible for overall direction of five operations grouped in IPSS: the English Language Institute, Summer and Winter Sessions, Study Abroad Programs, Foreign Student and Scholar Services, and Overseas Contracts and Grants.

Reporting directly to the vice provost for academic programs and planning, Huddleston also will serve as an adviser on other international issues that affect the University.

"I am very pleased with the appointment of Mark Huddleston as associate provost," Bobby Gempesaw, vice provost for academic programs and planning, said. "Huddleston, who was unanimously recommended by the search committee, knows the challenges and opportunities facing IPSS and has the confidence of the faculty and staff to lead the unit."

Huddleston joined the UD faculty as an assistant professor in 1980 after having taught at the State University of New York at Buffalo for three years. Before his appointment as associate provost, he was chairperson and professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations.

Last year, Huddleston also served as president of the University Faculty Senate.

Huddleston's academic specialty is public administration, a field in which he has published widely, focusing on the senior federal career service and a variety of international issues.

He has worked extensively in Bosnia and Kazakhstan for USAID and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He also has managed programs for the United States Information Agency in Slovenia, Mexico, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

A veteran of many UD study abroad programs, Huddleston directed a program in London and Brussels in the Winter Sessions of 1982 and 1983 and in Geneva in Winter Sessions of 1987 and 1990.

In 1992, he cofounded the Winter Session program in Merida, Mexico, and helped direct that program again in 1993, 1995 and 1998. Huddleston directed the spring semester in London in 1994 and in 1995 founded the Summer Session program in London, which he also directed in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Huddleston holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and master's and doctoral degrees in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The members of the IPSS Associate Provost Search Committee were Richard Zipser, foreign languages and literatures; Suzanne Alchon, history; Kate Conway-Turner, individual and family studies; Allan Fanjoy, IPSS; and William Latham, economics.