STILLWATER, Okla. — Robert J. Sternberg will be Oklahoma State University’s new provost/senior vice president if his selection is approved Friday by the OSU/A&M Board of Regents.

Sternberg, 60,  brings creativity, scholarship and research to the position, Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis said.

“... Oklahoma State University is extremely pleased to have him join our team to guide our academic programs,” Hargis said.

Sternberg will replace Marlene Strathe, who has held the post since July 2003. She announced she would step down and rejoin the faculty in September.

“We thank Marlene for her leadership and dedication to OSU as provost and as interim president,” Hargis said.

Sternberg was the first of four candidates to interview for the provost/senior vice president position. He was on campus from March 24 through March 27. All four met in forums with faculty and staff.

The other candidates were:

• Conrado “Bobby” M. Gempesaw II, dean of the University of Delaware’s Lerner College of Business and Economics.

• Robert Marley, dean of the College of Engineering at Montana State University.

• Cameron Hackney, dean of West Virginia University’s Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Services.

OSU was fortunate to have four strong finalists with a variety of experiences for the position, Hargis said.

Sternberg’s management style and leadership ability stood out with deans and faculty, Hargis said.

During his forum with faculty and staff, Sternberg said the purpose of higher education is to develop future leaders who will change the world.

When challenges arise, Sternberg said he would actively go to faculty and staff to find an answer.

Oklahoma State is a diamond in the rough, he said, adding a diamond in the rough is an organization that is “open to change, open to the appearance of change and who believes in their own ability to change.”

The opportunity to come to Oklahoma State University thrills him, Sternberg said Wednesday,

“OSU is on course to be among the top tier of state universities and land-grant systems in the country and it is an honor to join the OSU team. I look forward to working with OSU’s outstanding faculty and helping OSU’s talented students succeed at the highest level,” he said.

Sternberg will serve as the chief academic officer of the institution.  His responsibilities will include oversight of the colleges, including the Honors College and Library, as well as scholar development, academic services to students and assessment.

Prior to accepting his position at Tufts, he served in a variety of positions on the psychology faculty at Yale University from 1975, including acting chair and director of graduate studies.  He was the IBM Professor of Psychology and Education from 1986-2005, and director of the Center for the Psychology of Abilities, Competencies, and Expertise from 2000-2005.

He has served as an honorary psychology professor at the University of Heidelberg since 2007.

Sternberg received his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Yale University and his doctorate from Stanford University, both in psychology, and has been awarded 11 honorary doctorates from around the world.

He is serving as president of the International Association for Cognitive Education and Psychology, and is president-elect of the Federation of Associations of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. In 2003 he was president of the American Psychological Association.  He currently serves on the board of directors of the International Association of Cognitive Education and Psychology, the Association of American Colleges and Universities, and is an honorary trustee of the American Psychological Foundation.