President Bill Perry named Dan Nadler, the vice president for student affairs, as the interim athletic director for Eastern Thursday morning, as the announcement comes less than a month after Barbara Burke confirmed that she would leave the university to go to Tulane.

While Burke begins her duties as the deputy director of athletics/chief operating officer beginning Monday, Nadler takes over the Eastern athletic department, which is beginning its search for the next full-time athletic director.

Perry also announced that Bob Martin, vice president for university advancement, would serve as the chair of the athletic director search committee.

Nadler said Eastern is hoping to hire its next athletic director in the coming months.

“We will move forward in an efficient manner with the goal of having a new director in place by Aug. 1, 2014,” Nadler said in a press release.

The last time Eastern had to hire a new athletic director, came after Rich McDuffie was relived of his duties in 2007.

Ken Baker was named the interim athletic director then until Burke was hired seven months later in March 2008 and had been athletic director until this April.

“During the interim, we will work hard as a team to continue the excitement and excellence Barbara Burke has created at EIU,” Nadler said. “We will continue to keep our student-athletes as the cornerstone of our efforts, striving to maximize their academic, athletic and personal development.”

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].