Roy Haggerty named provost and executive vice president at Oregon State University

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Roy Haggerty, a longtime higher education administrator with strong ties to Oregon State University, has been named the university’s next provost and executive vice president.

Haggerty has served as executive vice president and provost at Louisiana State University since 2022 and previously spent 26 years at Oregon State as a faculty member and leader, including as dean of the College of Science, interim dean of the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences and associate vice president of research.

“Roy’s vision and leadership come at a pivotal time, as we elevate Oregon State’s global identity as a top public university that fuels a thriving world through research, innovation and student success,” said OSU President Jayathi Murthy. “His creativity and forward thinking will play a vital role in OSU’s future.”

As provost and executive vice president, Haggerty will serve as the university’s chief academic and operating officer, OSU’s academic colleges, the Division of Extension and Engagement and other administrative divisions and offices and guide the OSU-Cascades campus in Bend.

"Etched in the concrete outside Valley Library are the words of former Oregon Governor Tom McCall. 'Heroes,' he said, 'are not giant statues framed against a red sky. They are people who say: This is my community, and it is my responsibility to make it better,'" said Haggerty. "This is how I view OSU’s mission. Oregon is our community, and it is OSU’s responsibility to do everything we can to make it better.  I can’t wait to join President Murthy and everyone at OSU to advance all of Oregon.”

Haggerty, an environmental geologist with expertise in hydrology, first joined the OSU faculty in 1996. Haggerty is widely known for his development of the smart tracer, a molecule that moves with water while it senses and records valuable information about the environment. He is also a Geological Society of America fellow and has led research projects totaling more than $9 million.

He received his doctorate and his master’s degrees in hydrogeology from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree with first class honors from the University of Alberta.

Haggerty, who was selected following a national search, begins his new role July 7. He succeeds Belinda Batten, who has served as interim provost since Edward Feser left in March to become president of Saint Louis University.