The new UA provost is already looking toward the university’s future following the official announcement of his selection Tuesday.

Andrew Comrie has served as interim provost since summer 2012, and a search for someone to fill the provost position yielded three final candidates, including Comrie. Each of the candidates was interviewed around campus, and a Provost Search Advisory Committee offered its feedback to Hart, who made the final decision to select Comrie.

“Although all three finalists were superb, Provost Comrie emerged as the all-around best fit with the broadest portfolio of background experience that most closely matched the UA’s current and future needs,” Hart said in a written statement.

Comrie received a call from the president offering him the official position, which he accepted.

“It’s really wonderful to have the opportunity to help shape the institution, to have a senior leadership position and to really be able to try and gather people’s opinions, try to understand the world we’re operating in and make the U of A absolutely the best it can be,” Comrie said.

Comrie said that as the provost, he will focus on leading the university in its academic mission. Some areas to focus on for the university as a whole include improving the UA’s standing in the biomedical arena and engaging students to put their education in practice, which ties into the overall university strategic plan, Comrie said.

“I could not be happier with the search outcome and am delighted to be working with Andrew as we move the UA to ever greater levels of excellence,” Hart said.

Comrie stressed that his main goal is to ensure the university has a real impact on students, the world and the Tucson community in terms of what the UA can provide as an “engine of knowledge.”

“We forget it’s a noble calling we’re in, and I think if we do our job really well we can, together, have a truly phenomenal impact both locally and globally,” Comrie said. “It’s just really exciting to be able to be a part of that.”,