EUREKA – The vice president for academic affairs at Saint Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, Ind., has been named provost and dean at Eureka College. Daniel J. Blankenship will begin duties June 1.

“Dr. Blankenship’s nearly 30 years of higher education experience in administration, teaching, research and interdisciplinary collaboration will be a welcome addition to our campus community,” said Eureka College President J. David Arnold. “I look forward to partnering with him to move Eureka College’s academic success to new heights.”

Blankenship has been the chief academic officer at Saint Joseph’s since 2010. He directed the college’s efforts to secure $3 million in grants for programs to increase student retention and graduation rates and to prepare students for the workforce. Blankenship previously was executive vice president and provost at Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, and chief executive officer and campus dean at University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac. He also was a biology professor and dean at the School of Mathematics and Science at the University of Great Falls, Great Falls, Mont. Blankenship received bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, all in biology and all from Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif. He has a private pilot certificate to fly single-engine airplanes. He and his wife have two teenage daughters.

Blankenship replaces Philip Acree Cavalier, who has been provost since 2009 and who will teach English at Eureka College.