This story is developing and will be updated with more information as it becomes available.

Graduate School Dean Peter Weber will step down from his administrative position and return to teach full-time within the Department of Chemistry, wrote Provost Richard Locke in a community-wide email Wednesday.

Weber, who has taught at the University since 1989, began his position as dean in July 2010, The Herald previously reported.

In the last five-and-a-half years, he saw a 17 percent growth in graduate student population and worked to expand graduate student benefits, Locke wrote.

Of Weber’s most significant contributions were those regarding financial aid. As part of President Paxson’s Building on Distinction Plan, Weber implemented the Presidential Fellows Program, which provides stipends and increased financial support to outstanding doctoral program applicants across all concentrations. He has also worked to bolster “financial certainty” for graduate students who require a period of study lasting longer than five years, Locke wrote.

Within the coming month, administrators will launch a search for Weber’s successor as they work with him and Graduate School staff to assure a smooth changeover as he returns to the Department of Chemistry.

Within his former department, Weber researched molecular energy flow and reaction dynamics and the characterization of molecular structures. Weber also served as chair of the chemistry department between 2005 and 2010, The Herald previously reported. As chair, Weber oversaw the growth of graduate student enrollment within the department.