Purdue News
Purdue News
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July 7, 2004 Research VP cites personal, family reasons for not coming to PurdueWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue's choice for vice president of research has cited personal reasons for his decision to end his administrative career and remain at the University of Michigan as a professor, Purdue officials announced Wednesday (July 7). Fawwaz T. Ulaby, who serves as vice president for research at Michigan, notified Purdue that he will give up his administrative duties at Michigan and return to faculty status there as soon as that university can hire a replacement. Ulaby was scheduled to become Purdue's vice president for research on Sept. 1, said Purdue Provost Sally Mason. "I know this was a difficult decision for Dr. Ulaby," Mason said. "It's unfortunate, because we were looking forward to his arriving at Purdue, and he was excited about the opportunity to begin here. However, he has shared with me the compelling personal reasons behind this change in his career, and I fully appreciate his decision. We continue to have nothing but the deepest respect for Dr. Ulaby and wish him all the best." Mason said she will appoint a committee in early fall to conduct a new national search to fill the key research position. Charles O. Rutledge, executive director of Purdue's Discovery Park, will continue as interim vice provost for research, a position he has held since November 2002. In a statement, Ulaby said, "While I regret the challenges that my decision to withdraw from the position may cause for Purdue, I know it is the right decision for me and my family. I wish Purdue the very best, and I intend to continue to serve Michigan to the best of my abilities. I will be working with President (Mary Sue) Coleman and Provost (Paul N.) Courant over the next several months to ensure that U-M's research agenda continues uninterrupted and to provide for a smooth transition as the search for a new vice president goes forward." Ulaby, who has served as University of Michigan's vice president for research since 1999, is a professor of electrical engineering and computer science. His Purdue appointment was announced in April and ratified by the university's board of trustees in June. Purdue's vice president for research oversees more than $355 million in projects and programs funded by federal grants, industry, foundations, state and local governments, and private sources. The position also has direct responsibility for research coming out of Discovery Park, which will house the Birck Nanotechnology Center, Bindley Bioscience Center, Center for Advanced Manufacturing, e-Enterprise Center, Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship, Discovery Learning Center and a biomedical engineering building. Writer: Brian Zink, (765) 494-2080, bzink@purdue.edu Source: Sally Mason, (765) 494-9709, sfmason@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu Related Web site:
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