Doug Shaw, the senior associate provost for international strategy, will step down from his post, the University announced Monday.

Shaw will return to teach and research within the Elliott School of International Affairs after working to strengthen GW’s international programs for more than two years, according to the release. Deputy Provost Terry Murphy will take over his responsiblities, managing international services and forming a committee to review the University’s current international programs, Provost Forrest Maltzman announced in the release.

“Doug Shaw has been a key player as we have developed a coordinated strategy around our international focus,” Maltzman said in the release. “With many goals accomplished, we now have a structure in place to propel our international goals forward.”

Shaw became the first senior associate provost for international strategy when the position was created in 2015 to expand GW’s international reach. Globalization is one of the main pillars of the University’s decade-long strategic plan, and Shaw was brought in to help execute those goals with former Provost Steven Lerman.

Since 2015, the undergraduate and graduate international student population has increased to more than 4,000 students, the International Service Office has been reorganized and GW’s study abroad programs around the world have grown, according to the release.

GW has aimed to double its international student population to 15 percent of undergraduates and 30 percent of graduates by 2020, and Shaw announced in 2016 that officials were looking to enhance GW’s services for international students after faculty said students had limited options.

Shaw previously worked as the associate dean for planning, research and external relations at Elliott, as well as an assistant professor of international affairs. He will take a research leave during the fall semester and will return to teaching again in the spring, according to the release.