David S. Yeh, Cornell's assistant vice president for student and academic services since 1987, has been named assistant provost for academic programs and projects at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), a new university in Saudi Arabia, effective July 31.

At KAUST, Yeh will provide leadership and strategic direction on a wide variety of programs, projects and initiatives. They include developing organizational processes and academic programs and policies. He will also serve as ombudsman on academic life issues.

"I have been afforded challenging and interesting opportunities that would be the envy of many: unfettered opportunities to grow and develop personally and professionally, endless possibilities to contribute to the betterment of this community, work with incredibly talented and dedicated people, and countless other perks," said Yeh, who is also the university registrar in the division of student and academic services. "Cornell will always be a lasting part of me."

One of Yeh's major contributions at Cornell was the implementation of a student information system that included new technologies to deliver "one-stop shopping" services online. "We were among the earliest schools to give students direct access to their own information," Yeh said. He began the initiative in 1992 and has spent his last years at Cornell developing and implementing the system.

Yeh also led logistical planning for such major events as visits from the Dalai Lama, Israeli President Shimon Peres, former president of Taiwan Lee Teng-hui, Ph.D. '68, and former President Bill Clinton. In addition, Yeh oversaw the renovation and restoration of McGraw Tower and the Cornell chimes in 1999 and Bailey Hall in 2007.

"We will miss him at Cornell," said Susan H. Murphy, vice president for student and academic services. "He has been a terrific leader for us in so many ways and someone who seems to solve problems no matter where they come from. I am very excited for him at this new university, and for him to have an opportunity to be involved in creating it literally from the ground up."

KAUST is being built as an international, graduate-level research university, where gender, race, ethnicity, religion and age are not defining factors, Yeh said. "It's really wonderful to be asked to participate in that endeavor."

"David Yeh has proved to be an extraordinary, versatile and talented member of the Cornell team," said Cornell President Emeritus Frank H.T. Rhodes, who has been instrumental in the development of KAUST's charter and is a member of KAUST's board of trustees. "The breadth of his interests and skills will be an enormous asset in his new role at KAUST."

"It's always bittersweet to leave not only an institution but also an environment that's so enriching and beautiful," Yeh said. But his new role "will be very exciting and quite an adventure."