R. Michael Tanner, a distinguished administrator and information theory and computer science researcher from the University of California at Santa Cruz, joined UIC as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs in July 2002. The provost, who reports to the chancellor, is UIC's chief academic officer to whom the deans of all fifteen colleges report.

"I am delighted to join UIC. The strength of UIC's faculty and deans, its commitment to its students and its urban mission, the excellence of its research programs, and its central location in Chicago make this one of the most exciting opportunities in higher education."

Tanner began administrative service early in his career. Three years after earning tenure and promotion to associate professor at Santa Cruz, he was appointed chair of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences, a post he held from 1981 to 1988. During his time as chair, the academic division added a computer engineering program, the combined faculty grew from seven to twenty, the graduate program tripled in size, and external funding increased dramatically.

He was named acting dean of natural sciences, overseeing eight departments. A year later he was appointed academic vice chancellor, the campus' chief operating officer.

In 1992 he became executive vice chancellor, and his responsibilities expanded to include fiscal planning, managing a $225 million budget; new construction planning; and resource planning and policy.

After six years, Tanner took a year's sabbatical to work on his research, which includes coding and information theory, computer simulation models, educational uses of information technology, and intellectual property.

In August 2000, Tanner became the interim director for the UC Silicon Valley Center, responsible for developing a satellite campus for two thousand students envisioned for the NASA Research Park at the NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley.

Tanner holds bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University. He also holds four patents and is a fellow of the California Council on Science and Technology and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.