October 15, 2007

Purdue reorganizes research area; chooses committee to lead search

She also appointed a search advisory committee to identify candidates for the next vice president for that office. William R. Woodson, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, will chair the committee, Córdova said. The incumbent, Charles O. Rutledge, will retire this year after serving in the position since 2002.

"We hope to expand our research activity significantly by broadening our partnerships with the federal government, foundations and national laboratories," Cordova said. "To do this, we will need to enhance our infrastructure to support large-scale research projects. The new strategic planning process will help guide this effort, and the new vice president will lead it."

Rutledge, who had reported to the provost, was named interim vice president in 2002 and was appointed permanently to the post in May 2005. Previously, he had been dean of Purdue's College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences for 15 years and was appointed as the founding executive director of Discovery Park in 2001.

"Chip Rutledge has brought a great deal of initiative and ingenuity to his leadership role at Purdue," Córdova  said. "This university's reputation is built in part on its achievements in research, and we have assembled strong leadership and staff. We have positioned ourselves to attract candidates who will lead our research efforts and help attract even more sponsored research.

"Dr. Woodson understands the depth of experience and credentials we are looking for in our candidates and will be a strong leader for this committee."

Woodson has been dean of Purdue Agriculture since 2004, when he was named after serving on an interim basis. He joined the Purdue faculty in 1985 and had overseen the university's agriculture research programs since 1998, including initiatives in biotechnology and genomics.

"I'm honored to be chosen to serve with my colleagues on this important committee," Woodson said. "We're eager to begin our search for a leader who will maintain and enhance Purdue's commitment to research excellence."

Other committee members include:

* James Almond, vice president for business services and assistant treasurer

* Daryl Scott Brand, associate dean of research and professor of library science

* Melba Crawford, assistant dean of engineering for interdisciplinary research; director of the Laboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing; and a professor of agronomy, civil engineering, and electrical and computer engineering

* Patricia Davies, director of Herrick Laboratories and professor of mechanical engineering

* Jon Harbor, associate vice president for research, interim director of the Discovery Learning Center, and professor of earth and atmospheric sciences

* Marietta Harrison, professor of medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology

* Timothy Husk, vice president of graduate student government

* Leah Jamieson, John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering

* Manohar Kalwani, American United Life Insurance Co. Professor of Management

* Richard Kuhn, professor and head of the Department of Biological Sciences

* Philip Low, Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry

* Alan Rebar, executive director of Discovery Park, senior associate vice president for research and professor of veterinary clinical pathology

* Willie Reed, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine

* Laura Sands, professor of nursing

* Anne Smith, distinguished professor of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

* Jon Story, associate dean of the Graduate School and professor in the Department of Foods and Nutrition

* Mileta Tomovic, interim head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology and W.C. Furnas Professor of Enterprise Excellence

* Simran Trana, director of Purdue Research Foundation's Office of Technology and Commercialization

* Phillip Van Fossen, James F. Ackerman Professor of Social Studies Education, director of James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship and associate director of the Purdue Center for Economic Education

* Michael Wartell, chancellor of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne

* Connie Weaver, distinguished professor and head of the Department of Foods and Nutrition, and director of the NIH Botanical Center for Age Related Diseases

* Gabriella Weaver, associate professor of chemical education and physical chemistry

* Rebecca White, assistant director of sponsored program services

* George Wodicka, head of the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, professor of biomedical engineering and electrical and computer engineering, and co-director of the Bindley Bioscience Center

The committee members will advertise the position, identify a diverse pool of candidates, screen their credentials, narrow the pool to a short list and conduct interviews, and then present the finalists to the president. Córdova will make the final selection after additional interviews of finalists by herself and others.

The vice president for research is charged with assisting faculty and staff in their research efforts and leads research administration and oversight, research development and proposal preparation, funding opportunities, private sector partnerships, and provides center support.

The vice president for research is responsible for more than $420 million (for fiscal year 2005-06, the latest year for which figures are available) in projects, including sponsored programs funded by federal grants, industry, foundations, state and local governments, and private sources.

Writer: Jim Bush, (765) 494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu

Sources: France A. Córdova (765) 494-9708, president@purdue.edu

William R. Woodson (765) 494-8391, woodson@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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