New Leadership of Boston University’s Research Enterprise Announced
From: Dr. Robert A. Brown, University President; Dr. Jean Morrison, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer; and Martin Howard, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
Following an assessment of the existing structures that support Boston University’s research enterprise and consultations with faculty, administrative leaders, and staff, we are pleased to announce two new leadership appointments: a new Vice President and Associate Provost for Research and a Vice President for Research Finance & Operations, which is a newly created position.
The Vice President and Associate Provost for Research will have responsibility for 1) leadership of the University’s research enterprise, 2) development of effective University-level policies and procedures that facilitate research, and 3) oversight of research compliance, including research safety, health, and environmental impact. The Vice President for Research Finance & Operations will have responsibility for oversight of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), Post-Award Financial Operations (PAFO), as well as Sourcing & Procurement. We are announcing appointments to both positions today.
Vice President and Associate Provost for Research
Professor Gloria Waters, currently the Dean of Sargent College, will become Vice President and Associate Provost for Research, effective July 1, 2013. In this role, Gloria will have responsibility for the University’s research enterprise. She will work with the leadership of all our schools and colleges to strengthen and expand the quality, stature, and vitality of Boston University’s research. She will represent the University with key stakeholders in government, industry, and foundations. She also will lead the development and implementation of effective policies and procedures to streamline and manage research. Professor Waters will chair our Research Council, a group composed of key academic and administrative research leaders from our schools and colleges and the central administration. She will report directly to the University Provost and work closely with the President.
Since 2005, Gloria has served as Dean of Boston University’s College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College. Since 1997, she has held a faculty appointment as Professor in the Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences. In addition to her scholarly achievements as an NIH-funded researcher in the field of communication disorders, Gloria has demonstrated extraordinary vision and administrative skill in her leadership of Sargent College. She has made tremendous strides in increasing the size, quality, and selectivity of the College’s undergraduate and graduate programs. During her service as Dean, she has succeeded in doubling the volume of Sargent’s research funding, and she implemented administrative organization and processes resulting in increased efficiency, as well as enhanced student and faculty support. Gloria has an exceptional record of service as a member of several University-level search committees and task forces that resulted in significant reports and/or appointments that have contributed to the progress of the University. Notably, she co-chaired the Council on Faculty Diversity & Inclusion, which issued an important report in 2008. She also played a critical role in the development of research compliance policies as a member of the committee charged with oversight of the merger of the CRC and MED Institutional Review Boards, as well as the committee charged with developing the Institutional Conflict of Interest Policy.
Gloria’s research in the areas of language and memory processes includes an impressive portfolio of federal and foundation-sponsored awards. The U.S. Department of Education, the National Institutes of Health, the Medical Research Council of Canada, and the Alzheimer’s Association of America, among others, have funded her research. Gloria received her BA in Psychology from McGill University, and her MA in Applied Psychology and PhD in Psychology from Concordia University.
Gloria’s transition to her new role necessitates a national-level search for the next Dean of Sargent College; that effort will commence at the end of the summer. In the meantime, we are pleased to announce that Dr. Kathleen Morgan, Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Sciences, will assume the role of Dean ad interim of Sargent College, effective July 1, 2013. Interim Dean Morgan and Vice President and Associate Provost Waters will work closely together and with the administrative leadership of Sargent to ensure a smooth transition.
We thank Gloria Waters for her remarkable service as Dean of Sargent College and are grateful to Kathy Morgan for assuming interim leadership of Sargent in the coming year. Please join us in congratulating Gloria on her appointment as Vice President and Associate Provost for Research.
Vice President for Research Finance & Operations
Andy Horner, currently Associate Vice President for Financial Affairs, will assume the position of Vice President for Research Finance & Operations, effective July 1, 2013. Andy will have primary responsibility for providing research administration services to the Boston University research community, including direct responsibility for the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) and Post-Award Financial Operations (PAFO). He will have responsibility for the full life cycle of sponsored programs and for ensuring that research administration is responsive to the needs of faculty, researchers, and staff. He will work in close collaboration with the Vice President and Associate Provost for Research in the development of research-related policies and procedures. Andy also will continue his oversight of the University’s Sourcing & Procurement function. He will continue to report directly to the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer, and have a secondary reporting line to the University Provost.
Andy joined Boston University’s finance team in April 2010 as Assistant Vice President for Post-Award Financial Operations. Prior to that time, Andy spent 11 years advising and implementing best practices as a consultant to research units at Yale University, George Washington University, and other leading complex research universities. Since his arrival he has made substantial progress in reconfiguring and managing an improved post-award function and has become a valued and collaborative partner in the University’s research community. Most recently, Andy has assumed responsibility for overseeing Sourcing & Procurement to ensure effective and efficient procurement processes and tools in the delivery of high-quality service to the University community. Andy received his MBA with High Honors from Boston University and is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Notre Dame.
Please join us in congratulating Andy on this important new role at Boston University.
We believe that these two appointments and the new organizational structure will enable us to compete effectively and, in fact, expand our research portfolio in the coming years. Detailed descriptions of the positions of the Vice President and Associate Provost for Research and the Vice President for Research Finance & Operations can be found online.