The University of Arkansas has named a new senior associate vice chancellor for research and innovation. Starting Nov. 1, industrial engineering professor Heather Nachtmann will take on the role.
In this position, Nachtmann will work alongside the incoming vice chancellor for research and innovation, John English, to conduct a comprehensive review of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (VCRI)’s operations. This review will entail studying the organizational structure, functions and resource allocations for the office.
This study will not include the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I3R) initiative.
According to a U of A news release, Nachtmann’s role will be the no. 2 position in the VCRI office but will be closer to that of a consultant and will not have supervisory responsibilities. She will maintain a 50 percent faculty appointment, conducting research and other activities in her role as professor of industrial engineering and Earl J. and Lillian P. Dyess Endowed Chair in Engineering.
“I am honored to step into this role,” Nachtmann said in a statement. “The VCRI office is vital to our research mission, and I am excited to expand my research purview beyond the College of Engineering and learn more about research administration as a member of the VCRI team. I have had the opportunity to work with several members of this team over the past 20 years as a principal investigator, research center director, and associate dean for research. I look forward to bringing a faculty user perspective as we work to support the VCRI team in their critical mission to facilitate and enhance research and innovation activities of our faculty, staff, and students.”
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