Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval was announced as Fresno State’s next provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Fresno State President Dr. Joseph I. Castro announced in a news release on Friday that Jiménez-Sandoval would transition with Interim Provost Robert Harper. He will start his new position on July 22.

Jiménez-Sandoval has been a Fresno State faculty member since 2000.

During his 19 years at the university, Jiménez-Sandoval has served as professor of Spanish and Portuguese, coordinator of the Spanish master of arts, chair of the department of modern and classical languages and literatures, interim associate dean of the College of Arts and Humanities and dean of the College of Arts and Humanities.

He serves in a leadership role on a number of councils that nurture cultural ties, collaboration and fundraising opportunities, including the President’s Commission for the Future of Arts and Humanities; President’s Jewish Leadership Council; President’s Latino Leadership Community Group; President’s Portuguese Leadership Council; President’s Armenian Leadership Council; SE Asian Community Task Force; and University High School Board, according to the release.

“He is a dynamic scholar and administrator with an unwavering passion for our university’s mission to boldly educate and empower students for success,” Castro said in the release. “I am excited to work with him to guide Fresno State to even greater heights of academic distinction, which will help to elevate the entire Central Valley.”