Warren will temporarily fill the position now held by Richard Porterfield, who announced this month that he will retire Dec. 1. Arnett C. Mace Jr., UGA’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, announced Warren’s appointment today.

Warren joined the Warnell School in 1983 and is a professor and member of the graduate faculty. He is also a faculty member in the master’s degree program in conservation ecology and sustainable development offered through UGA’s Institute of Ecology.

The recipient of several teaching awards including UGA’s highest teaching honor, the Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professorship, Warren is an authority in wildlife ecology and management and wildlife physiology and nutrition. He has received more than $1.5 million in research awards and grants, and is well known for his work on reintroducing bobcats to their native habitat on Cumberland Island, and his research on reproductive control in deer and feral horses.

“Dr. Warren is a highly respected faculty member by his colleagues, the university community, professional associates and constituents of the Warnell School,” said Mace. “He possesses outstanding leadership and managerial skills essential to effectively guide the school during this interim period. I look forward to working with Bob in this capacity to further the goals of the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.”

Warren is the author or co-author with students of 102 articles in scientific journals and has written three book chapters and edited or co-edited three books. He has taught 18 technical courses and served on 10 scientific panels designed to help state and federal agencies deal with wildlife management and wildlife fertility control problems.

He is a past national president of The Wildlife Society and was also president of the society’s Southeastern Section, receiving awards for outstanding service to both groups. He received the National Park Service Special Achievement Award for outstanding natural resources research, and received the Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching from the Warnell School’s alumni association.

Mace said a committee will be formed to conduct a national search for a permanent dean of the Warnell school.