Dr. Garry Grubbs has been named interim vice provost of graduate education at S&T, effective Sept. 1. Grubbs will take over the position from Dr. Samual Frimpong, who has served as vice provost of graduate education since June 2023.

“Dr. Grubbs is widely respected across campus, and he has demonstrated a sincere concern for graduate student well-being and the management of graduate programs,” says Dr. Colin Potts, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. “He has great insights into what is needed and will work on the graduate student bill of rights, the simplification of the grad track pathway, and evolution of the policies and practices governing graduate programs.”

“I applaud Dr. Frimpong’s contributions to graduate education and what he has brought to the leadership of academic affairs,” says Potts. “The graduate education conference this month promises to be a stimulating event and will be a fitting capstone to his tenure as vice provost.” 

Grubbs joined S&T in 2013 as an assistant professor of chemistry. He was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2019, named associate chair of chemistry in 2022, and promoted to full professor this year. He has served as the associate advisor of S&T’s Mars Rover Design Team since 2014. He is also the immediate past chair of the South-Central Missouri local section of the American Chemical Society, where he helps with community outreach events such as National Chemistry Week. 

Grubbs earned a Ph.D. from the University of North Texas and a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University. His research focuses on improving the instruments and methods for analyzing molecular rotational spectra in the gas phase and implementing those methods on new and novel molecules like actinide-containing salts. His research is currently funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.