 From 2005 to 2008, he was the associate vice president for research at the University of Kentucky, acting as vice president from 2006 to 2007.From 2008 to 2014 Staben served as provost and vice president for academic affairs of the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.As president of the University of Idaho, Staben has sought to grow its enrollment and more broadly increase overall college attendance in Idaho.