Val Dunham, a retired biology professor and former dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, rejoins the staff as interim associate provost for research with responsibility for the Office of Grants and Sponsored Research, effective July 1. He will be filling in for Richard Moore, who has retired.

Dave Evans, associate professor of chemistry and physics, has been named assistant provost for technical college engagement. In this new position, Evans will be responsible for making connections to technical and community colleges, particularly with Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC).

Dunham joined the Coastal Carolina University faculty in 1995. He earned a bachelor's degree in science in 1962 from Houghton College in Houghton, N.Y. and earned a master's degree in science in 1965 and a Ph.D. in botany in 1969, both from Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y. He also conducted post-doctoral research from 1969 to 1973 at Purdue University. Prior to joining Coastal Carolina University, Dunham was a professor of biology and head of the department of biology at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.

As assistant provost, Evans will coordinate collaborative programming with HGTC, including shared classroom laboratories and increased faculty interaction. He will also be involved in streamlining the curriculum to increase the frequency of students matriculating to Coastal Carolina University after completing associate degrees at community and technical colleges. Evans will also work on a state-sponsored project designed to align university curricula with technical college curricula.

Evans joined the Coastal Carolina University faculty in 1997. He earned a doctorate in organic chemistry from Louisiana State University in 1987, with a minor in biochemistry. He is past president of Coastal Carolina University's Faculty Senate.