Richard Oates, a member of the University of North Georgia’s faculty since 1982, will become vice president of the school’s Gainesville campus on July 1.

Oates’ responsibilities will include managing the campus’ growth, programs and community relations.

He has been interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs since July 2015. Oates also has been vice provost, associate provost, interim dean of the Mike Cottrell College of Business, and associate dean of the College of Education.

He replaces Eric Skipper as the interim chief administrator of the Gainesville campus. Skipper will be vice president for university affairs and be assigned to the Oconee campus. He also will have oversight of the Cumming and Blue Ridge campuses, economic development, professional and continuing education, and strategic plan implementation.

Skipper replaced Al Panu, who was vice president for academic affairs at Gainesville State College and oversaw the local consolidation of Gainesville State and UNG. He took a position as chancellor for the University of South Carolina Beaufort.

The Gainesville campus is the largest of UNG’s five locations by enrollment. Much of the university’s enrollment growth is expected to be at the Gainesville campus, a UNG press release said.

That is supported by enrollment trends, facility master planning, regional demographics and the expected availability of the adjacent Lanier Technical College campus, when it moves to new facilities in 2018.

“I look forward to continuing to serve UNG in this new capacity,” Oates said in a news release. “My academic and leadership experiences, coupled with the valuable relationships I have built over the years through community involvement as a Gainesville resident, will serve me well as I support the continued growth of this campus.”