University of Michigan governing board approves library director, provost and law school appointments

When he steps down from his deanship at University of Michigan's largest college, longtime historian Terrence J. McDonald will step into another leading role at the institution where he's spent most of his career.

McDonald, dean of the College of Literature, Science and Arts, will become the new director of the Bentley Historical Library. He will replace current director Francis Blouin, who has served in his position for 32 years.

McDonald will begin shortly after he steps down as dean. A search is underway for McDonald's replacement.

Bentley has more than 30,000 linear feet of manuscripts, published works, photographs and maps related to the history of the state and the university. The position especially is fitting for McDonald, who specializes in U.S. history.

McDonald joined the U-M faculty shortly after earning his doctorate from Stanford University in 1980. He is Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of History, and has served as LSA Dean since 2003.

The Board of Regents approved his appointment during their meeting Thursday.

The board also approved the appointment of Martha Pollack as provost. Provost Philip Hanlon is leaving in the spring to become the president of the Ivy League Dartmouth College.

Pollack, a 13-year veteran of the university, serves as a vice provost. She has co-taught a mini-course on the university budget with Hanlon, helped set tuition changes, worked to integrate the university into the Coursera platform and developed new facility space planning methods. She is a former dean of the School of Information.

The board also approved the appointment of Mark West as Law School dean.

West, the school's current associate dean for academic affairs, will be the 17th dean of the school and his appointment continues a tradition of the law school often hiring its top leader from within.

West is a scholar of the Japanese legal system and has a background as a transactional lawyer. He joined U-M's faculty as an assistant professor in 1998. He has held the directorships of U-M's Center for Japanese Studies and Center for International and Comparative Law.

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.