Peter Biehl, professor and chair of the Department of Anthropology, has been named associate dean for international education and enrollment for the College of Arts and Sciences.

The new position “fulfills a crucial need in the college: attracting high-caliber international students to our programs,” CAS Dean Robin Schulze said in making the appointment.

In his new role, Biehl will serve as point person for coordinating CAS’ implementation of recommendations in the report of Provost Charles F. Zukoski’s Task Force on International Student Inclusion and Engagement. Biehl chaired the task force, which was charged with recommending ways to improve the environment for UB’s international students.

Biehl’s other responsibilities will include following up on all international leads at the graduate level, and reviewing present and past applicant pools for CAS graduate and undergraduate programs to determine the largest feeder countries and institutions, among other initiatives.

An internationally known scholar of archaeology, Biehl is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and the German Archaeological Institute, and a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Internationalization.

His research interests include the archaeology of Europe and the Near East, the archaeology of climate change, and heritage and museum studies. He has been excavating at the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Çatalhöyük, Turkey, for more than a decade, and has published 10 books and more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.

Donald Pollock, associate professor of anthropology, will assume the role of interim chair of the anthropology department. Biehl had served as chair for the past seven years.