M E M O R A N D U M
To: University Community
From:Ronald Berkman, Executive Vice President and Provost
Re: Restructuring of Research Administration and Graduate Education
Date: October 22, 2008
Two years ago George Walker took on roles that combined two prior FIU administrative positions into one, Vice President for Research and Dean of the UniversityGraduateSchool. During the first year of Walker’s tenure at FIU much of his focus was on changes and improvements in the Office of Sponsored Research Administration (OSRA). At the time of Walker’s arrival, Andres Gil was recruited as Associate Vice President for Research Development, a position formerly held by Kelsey Downum.
During Walker’s second year at FIU more of his efforts were dedicated to development of research policy and the UniversityGraduateSchool. Now, as he enters his third year, he will continue to have senior leadership in research development and graduate education, including continuing his role as Dean of the UniversityGraduateSchool. In addition, he will take on further responsibilities in developing new research opportunities for the university and using his national recognition to promote the University’s research and graduate achievements and goals. In his capacity as Dean, he will accelerate the new process for reviewing and strengthening the University’s doctoral programs, using the methodology he developed during his tenure at the Carnegie Foundation.
I am restructuring research and graduate education by separating the position of Vice President for Research and Dean of the UniversityGraduateSchool. Andres Gil will take on the role of Vice President for Sponsored Research and George Walker will remain as Dean of the UniversityGraduateSchool as well as Senior Vice President for Research Development and Graduate Education. In this structure, the Vice President for Sponsored Research, Andres Gil, will report to George Walker.
This restructuring will keep the important connection between graduate education and sponsored research, but will allow for a Vice President for Sponsored Research to focus on the development and maturation of OSRA. Currently, OSRA has four units: Pre-Award, Post- Award, Research Integrity and Intellectual Property. FIU’s research growth will require further development of these units, as well as the establishment of a functional Research Foundation.
The new structure consists of a Vice President for Sponsored Research and Associate Vice Presidents for: 1) Budgets & Finance (currently Joe Barabino), 2) Research Integrity and Compliance (currently Jon Tubman at .50 FTE), and 3) Sponsored Research and Technology Development (Luis Salas at .40 FTE). Luis Salas will have specific duties pertaining to the growth and development of offices engaged in intellectual property and patent issues and Centers reporting to OSRA, currently the Applied Research Center (ARC) and the International Hurricane Research Center (IHRC), including the Wall of Wind.
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