Washington University has named a new provost … and he’s the same as the last provost.

Executive Vice Chancellor Edward S. Macias, the dean of Arts & Sciences, was named to the position, to begin Jan. 1, 2009. He was the last person to serve as provost at Wash U almost 13 years ago.

Wash U. Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton made the announcement last Friday.

According to a press release by the university, Macias was the last person to hold the position of provost at Wash U., from 1988 to 1995. Since then he has kept maintained the duties of a chief academic officer.

Macias will step down as dean on June 30 and take on his new position after a six-month sabbatical.

University officials said a interim dean of the faculty of Arts & Sciences will be named soon, and the University will launch a national search for a new dean.

The provost, along with the chancellor and the academic deans, are responsible for the oversight of the educational and scholarly programs at the University. The release states that “the provost is the chief academic officer of the University, responsible for working with the deans to enhance the quality and impact of the University’s academic mission. The provost, working with the executive vice chancellor for administration and the chief financial officer, also has responsibility for coordinating the budgeting and capital planning of the University.”