By Anne Baker

Despite announcing his ambitions last fall to become a university president, Provost Ahmed Abdelal has accepted an offer to become provost of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, a decision he said was a “lateral” move.

Stephen Zoloth, dean of Bouv’eacute; College of Health, was appointed as interim provost at Faculty Senate yesterday, effective April 1.

Provost Abdelal said in an interview with The News that he saw UMass Lowell as a “new challenge” and that it was important for him to remain creative and find new projects to work on.

“It’s a different task,” he said of UMass Lowell. “A public research university really applies itself to the urban environment somewhat differently than a private research university. I’m always excited about the challenge of urban university to really serve a community.”

Although he will be taking a pay cut, Abdelal said salary was not a factor in his decision.

“It’s normal for public institutions not to offer as high a salary as private institutions. In this point in my career it’s not an issue,” he said. “For people like myself in the academic world it’s excellent compensation.”

Jim Stellar, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said he was “not surprised” by Abdelal’s decision.

“I think Lowell is a very good fit for him,” he said. “He came from a state school, so he knows the state system. Lowell is a rising school, and we did that as a private institution so he brings that experience.”

Abdelal will leave behind a legacy of being hands on and available to students, said Ed Klotzbier, vice president for student affairs.

“I think he was a tremendous advocate for our students, and if we went to him on a student matter, he was always able to help us and resolve the matter in a student-centered way,” he said.

Zoloth, who is in his eighth year at Northeastern, has served on the search committees for the provost, president and deans of engineering and business, according to the press release. Klotzbier said that, like Abdelal, Zoloth will likely be student-oriented. The compassion for students is something Zoloth has demonstrated during his time at Bouv’eacute;, Klotzbier said.

“These are people who do care about people,” he said of the college. “And you really see it with Steve and his team.”

Stellar, who has known Zoloth since they attended graduate school together at University of Pennsylvania in the 1970s, said Zoloth would make a “terrific” interim provost.

“He’s a great guy,” he said. “He’s very experienced, smart. He knows the university well.”

Abdelal said he was not involved with the decision to pick Zoloth as interim provost.

“I’m maintaining very responsible and appropriate distance,” he said. “I should not be involved in how my successor to provost is selected. It would be inappropriate to get involved.”

Abdelal said he was grateful for his time spent at Northeastern.

“I have become really proud of the work that we have done at Northeastern,” he said. “Working with the faculty and Northeastern community is very rewarding. A lot has been accomplished and I’m very glad to have been part of that.”