Diner appointed Newark provost
Archived article from Nov 18, 2002
By Mark Maben
Steven J. Diner, a nationally recognized urban historian and public policy expert, has been named provost of the Newark campus. The appointment was announced Nov. 1 by Rutgers' acting President Norman Samuels on behalf of Rutgers President-designate Richard L. McCormick. Diner had been acting provost of the Newark campus since July 1.
"I cannot imagine anyone better suited and qualified for the position of provost of Rutgers- Newark than Steve Diner," said Samuels. "I have had the opportunity to observe firsthand his vision and leadership, first as dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Newark and more recently as acting provost. The respect he has earned on the job speaks eloquently of his superb abilities as an administrator and scholar."
Diner, 57, joined Rutgers-Newark in 1998 as dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and professor of history. He quickly forged partnerships with diverse institutions in the city, fostered urban research and developed a strong campus focus on urban education. He also has built a program in Portuguese studies with close connections to Newark's Ironbound community and has planned several initiatives in the sciences.
As dean, Diner significantly expanded enrollment and created a thriving Honors College emphasizing internships, experiential learning and original research. In 2000, he established the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies with a $2.4 million gift from the Fund for New Jersey.
"I am deeply honored that President McCormick has given me the opportunity to serve as the provost of Rutgers-Newark," said Diner. "This is an incredibly exciting time for the Newark campus and for all of Rutgers University. The Newark campus is thriving in a revitalized city, with enrollment at an all-time high. I look forward to building upon our deep traditions of academic excellence, commitment to opportunity for students born without privilege, and engagement with our city in the next phase of Rutgers-Newark's development."
Diner noted that he is looking forward to working closely with McCormick, who assumes the Rutgers presidency Dec. 1.
Diner holds a doctorate in history from the University of Chicago. He is the author of "A Very Different Age: Americans of the Progressive Era" (Hill & Wang, 1998) and "A City and Its Universities: Public Policy in Chicago 1892-1919" (University of North Carolina Press, 1980); and editor of "Compassion and Responsibility: Readings in the History of Social Welfare Policy in the United States" (University of Chicago Press, 1980), as well as other books and numerous scholarly articles and essays.
A resident of New York City, Diner is married to Hasia R. Diner, a professor of American Jewish history at New York University. The couple has three children.
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