The University of California, Irvine announced on May 28 the appointment of Peter Biehl as vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate Division. Biehl joins UC Irvine from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he served as vice provost and dean of graduate studies.
“I am excited to join the UC Irvine community, and I’m looking forward to working with the accomplished students, postdocs, faculty and staff. UC Irvine graduate education has a strong foundation, and I am thrilled to contribute to further innovation in research, creativity and discovery and to further our public impact in the community, nation and world,” Biehl said.
As vice provost and graduate dean, Biehl will oversee both graduate education and postdoctoral scholar professional development. The division serves over 7,500 graduate students across more than 120 degree programs. Each year it confers more than 1,300 master’s and doctoral degrees. “We are pleased to welcome Peter Biehl to UC Irvine. His record of academic leadership and commitment to graduate student success will be assets as he leads the Graduate Division into its next chapter,” said Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Hal Stern.
Biehl previously held academic roles at New York’s University at Buffalo from 2008 to 2021 before joining UC Santa Cruz. He was also a professor at several universities internationally, including Paris; Cambridge; Freiburg; and Halle. He is recognized for his research on climate change’s impact on historical sites as well as his authorship or editorship of eleven books.
Biehl is a fellow of several organizations such as the American Council on Education, Society of Antiquaries of London, and German Archaeological Institute. His work has been supported by institutions including the National Science Foundation.
University of California, Irvine participates in NCAA Division I athletics; holds very high research activity status per Carnegie classification; operates within the University of California system; emphasizes inclusive excellence in advancing knowledge through research, education, public service; engages in international collaborations; and maintains accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission, according to the official website.