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Who’s Who: Provost Richard Lariviere

By Ashley Barforoush

Thursday, March 6, 2008

He’s second in command to Chancellor Robert Hemenway and most students don’t even know his name.

“Who is the provost anyway?” Anna Czarnecki, Overland Park freshman, said.

He has a soft voice and strong ideas. He can speak three languages fluently, four with some difficulty. He has written three books in Sanskrit and has just returned from his annual trip to India.

Richard Lariviere, provost and executive vice chancellor, came to the University in 2006 leaving his position as the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas. Now the deans report to him.

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CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

In addition to being the provost, Richard Lariviere speaks three languages, has published three books in Sanskrit and has taken annual trips to India

“This student body is much smaller than Texas so there’s a more personal feel here,” Lariviere said.

He is the chief academic officer, responsible for implementing the academic mission of the University: superior education. Basically, this means frequent traveling and constant meetings. His day is divided among students, facility, donors, alumni and legislators, business that starts at 7:30 a.m. and doesn’t end until 8 p.m. However, his list of duties doesn’t stop there.

“At KU, the provost is also the chief operating officer which means I have to make sure the side walks are shoveled,” Lariviere said.

Lariviere said the best part of his job is serving the students. Recently the provost office created an online advising kit saving students and faculty valuable time. Now an advisor can look up students’ appointment histories so when a student arrives, they can dive right into business.

“I think my favorite, no, I know my favorite part is when something that the provost office does makes it easier for the faculty and the students to do what they are here to do,” Lariviere said.

He said if he could have things his way, there would be more money, more space, more faculty and better weather. Lariviere is also hopeful for Americans to open up their eyes. He travels to India on business and is fascinated by the dynamic economy in that region. He finds it discouraging that so many students consider India inferior to the United States.

“That’s a mistake. It’s one of the issues we need to work on in higher education in America the level of ignorance of not just our students but the population in general of what’s really happening in the rest of the world,” Lariviere said.

He’s always been interested in how law and religion work together to shape society. Fluent in French and Hindi, if there’s one person that is aware, it’s Lariviere.

“He really understands the world which is tremendously helpful when it comes to education,” Director of University Communications Lynn Bretz said.

Lariviere is able to read half a dozen different languages and write published works in the Indian language Sanscrit, which can be found in the Watson Library. He can’t recite all the places he’s been without stopping for air.

“I’ve been to all the countries of Europe, most countries of Asia and South America, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Northern Africa and Texas,” Lariviere said.

With such worldly experience he is able to see the University through a unique perspective. Lariviere said he has a definite vision for the University that he wants to achieve.

“KU is a really good institution it’s a lot better than the rest of the world knows, it’s even better than members of community understand,” Lariviere said. “I would like to see KU take its rightful place in that pantheon of institutions that everybody instinctively thinks of when they think of great education.”

—Edited by Jared Duncan

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