Provost Marten denBoer announced he is taking a medical leave of absence after revealing he has leukemia. The current dean of the College of Communication (CMN), Salma Ghanem, will take on the role of acting provost. Alexandra Murphy, a communication professor and associate dean of CMN will act as dean of the college.

“I’m concerned about the provost and I wish him a speedy recovery and I wish he will be back as soon as possible,” Ghanem said. “When I was asked [to act as provost], I was humbled that they have the confidence in me. But it’s definitely bittersweet, but definitely more bitter than sweet.”

The provost’s office said denBoer was unavailable to comment due to his leave.

President A. Gabriel Esteban made the official announcement in an email to the staff, and asked that the university community “keep Dr. denBoer and his family in our prayers during his treatment, and ask for a full and swift recorver.

denBoer, a physicist by trade, has been the provost of DePaul since 2015, and was previously the provost of California State Polytechnic University at Pomona for seven years.

A provost acts as a university’s chief academic official. At DePaul, the provost oversees the offices of Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management and Marketing, Student Affairs and Teaching and learning resources. In DePaul’s organizational hierarchy, the provost is second only to the president.