Welcome to Rocky Top, VC Research Deborah Crawford
Dear colleagues,
This weekend, Deborah Crawford officially began her career as a Vol as our new vice chancellor for research. Previously she served as vice president of research, innovation, and economic impact at George Mason University. She led GMU’s research enterprise, including the creation of three multidisciplinary research institutes and four university research centers.
Deb has hit the ground running at UT, having already started meeting with the research team, Governor’s Chairs, and others across campus.
As vice chancellor, Deb will lead and support an extraordinary team of researchers, staff, and graduate and undergraduate students to grow the university’s research enterprise, developing and implementing research plans, building innovative partnerships, and raising the university’s national and international reputation.
It is an exciting time for research at UT Knoxville, and Deb will work closely with the provost and partners at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to launch and oversee the Oak Ridge Institute and strengthen links with external corporate and not-for-profit communities.
Our campus has so much to offer in the area of research, and I can’t wait to see how our research enterprise continues to grow and evolve.
Please join me in welcoming Deb to Rocky Top.
Donde Plowman
Chancellor