Slippery Rock University announced it has named Timothy Slekar as associate provost for academic innovation and dean of graduate and continuing education.

Slekar was appointed to the newly created position following a national search and he will start at the university on May 19.

In this role reporting to the provost, Slekar will help the academic affairs division identify and develop new opportunities for academic programming to enhance SRU’s existing offerings.

Slekar was previously the executive director of Muskingum University’s Department of Education Studies.

A Pittsburgh native, Slekar earned his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction and elementary social studies from the University of Maryland, College Park. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education at Edinboro University and Millersville University.