Biography

Dr. David K. Campbell was named Provost of Boston University in September 2005. He came to BU as Dean of Engineering in the fall of 2000 after eight years as Professor and Head of the Department of Physics at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Prior to his position at Illinois, Dr. Campbell was Director of the Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS) at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), which he had joined in 1974 as the first J. Robert Oppenheimer Fellow. A theoretical physicist/applied mathematician by training, Dr. Campbell received his BA (in Chemistry and Physics, summa cum laude) from Harvard University and his Ph.D. from Cambridge University in Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics. After graduating, he held post-doctoral positions at the UIUC and at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.

As University Provost, Dr. Campbell has worked with the deans and faculty to clarify the promotion and tenure process and expectations for faculty in that regard. He has formed committees and task forces to investigate issues and solve problems such as academic calendar conflicts and inter-college transfer barriers, and he is co-chair of the Committee on Faculty Diversity and Inclusion which most recently conducted a Climate Survey to assess and analyze the issues facing faculty on both campuses.

Provost Campbell is also an amateur tenor, admirer of the arts, and enthusiastic audience member at concerts, recitals and plays.