By Grant J. Heston 

Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., has been appointed executive vice president and provost at Virginia Commonwealth University after serving in the role on an interim basis since December 2025. The Board of Visitors will officially consider the appointment at its meeting later this week.

His appointment is the conclusion of a national search and places a widely respected academic and health sciences leader in one of the university’s most important positions at a time when VCU is building momentum in student success, research growth and cross-university collaboration.

“Art has brought innovation, integrity, a clear commitment to our complex mission, and a collaborative spirit to the important work of VCU’s chief academic officer role,” said VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. “He has created alignment across units while keeping our focus where it belongs: on the success of students at all levels, faculty excellence, our commitment to VCU’s mission, research growth that will strengthen Virginia and opportunities for Virginians and strengthening VCU’s connectivity throughout the university and its many affiliated entities.”

Saavedra’s appointment reflects the confidence VCU’s leadership has in his ability to help guide an institution that is both highly ambitious and deeply committed to public service. VCU’s public mission — and the complexity that comes with it — depends on extraordinary people who are deeply committed to learning and teaching, adapting to current and future generations of learners, discovery of the unknown and creation.

“I am honored to serve as executive vice president and provost in a permanent capacity and thank President Rao and the Board of Visitors for their confidence,” Saavedra said. “VCU’s strength comes from its people and its mission, and I am committed to supporting faculty excellence, student success and the continued evolution of the university in ways that are bold, distinctive and mission-driven. I look forward to working with colleagues across VCU to build on the strong momentum already underway.”

As executive vice president and provost, Saavedra will help lead academic planning and priorities, with responsibility for advancing student success, faculty achievement, innovation in teaching and research and collaboration across disciplines.

“There was widespread agreement that Art is the right person at just the right time to serve as the leader of a faculty that is among the most innovative, dynamic, and caring in the country; a faculty committed to the challenging work of a university that is as committed to research, creativity, solving problems and saving lives as it is shaping the next generation of leaders in their fields,” Rao said. 

Previously, Saavedra served as dean of the VCU School of Medicine and executive vice president for medical affairs beginning in 2023. In those roles, he helped lead one of the university’s most complex and high-impact academic units while also contributing to the broader direction of the institution. 

Saavedra’s background makes him particularly well suited for this role at VCU, where the connections among education, discovery and patient care are central to the university’s identity and impact. He brings experience as a physician-scientist, an academic leader and a senior administrator who understands the scale, complexity and opportunity of a major public research university.

Stay informed, stay healthy. Sign up for VCU Health’s e-mail newsletter.