Gansler Named VP for Research for Two Years

Message to the Campus Community:

Dennis O'Connor, Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, has announced that he intends to step down from this post effective July 1, 2004, and assume the position of professor in the Department of Biology. During Dr. O'Connor's term as Vice President, the University has founded its new research park, the University of Maryland Enterprise Campus. Dr. O'Connor led successful negotiations to create the Center for Advanced Study of Language, a joint initiative of the University and the Department of Defense and the first occupant of the park. Under his leadership, the University has also negotiated a partnership with NOAA, which will build a new weather and climate prediction center in College Park, and signed formal partnership agreements with NIST and NASA Goddard. I appreciate very much his efforts on behalf of the University.

I am pleased to announce that Jacques Gansler, the current Acting Dean of the School of Public Policy, has agreed to assume the position of Vice President of Research, effective July 1, for a period of two years. Dr. Gansler's extensive experience in government and private industry and his academic leadership at the University make him eminently qualified to lead the University's research enterprise. Dr. Gansler will work effectively to build partnerships with federal government laboratories and agencies, private industry, and the state, and I welcome him to the administration team. During his term as Vice President, Dr. Gansler will continue to hold the Roger C. Lipitz Chair in the School of Public Policy and serve as Director of the Center for Public Policy and Private Enterprise. I know that he will be a major contributor to our research enterprises.

The Task Groups appointed jointly by the Senate and the President have recommended that the role of the Graduate School be evaluated. Implementation of the consolidation of the graduate and undergraduate admissions offices has already begun, but other recommendations will require more discussion. Since there are a number of possible administrative structures for graduate education, recommendations on how we should organize these functions need to be thought through carefully with extensive consultation with the faculty. Further, if changes in structure and policy are recommended, the approval process will take time. The Provost will initiate the review process over the summer.

During this period of review and consideration, Ann Wylie has agreed to serve as Interim Dean of the Graduate School for up to two years. Dr. Wylie's long tenure as a member of the Graduate Faculty, her record as an outstanding researcher in the Department of Geology, and her wide administrative experience, including a term as associate dean in the Graduate School, are qualifications that will make her an excellent leader of the School. At the same time, Dr. Wylie will continue to serve as Assistant President and Chief of Staff in the President's Office and will return to this position full time when her service as dean concludes.

C.D. Mote, Jr.,
President