Listening Sessions Feb. 8 for UW Research and Economic Development VP Search

Listening sessions have been scheduled Wednesday, Feb. 8, for a 14-member committee to gather input on the search for a new vice president for research and economic development at the University of Wyoming.

The committee is conducting a national search to find a successor to Bill Gern, who will retire at the end of the fiscal year after serving for 23 years as vice president for research and economic development.

Here is the schedule of Feb. 8 listening sessions, listed by categories of UW employees:

-- Vice presidents and associate vice presidents -- 8-9:30 a.m., Old Main, Room 404.

-- Deans and directors -- 9:30-10:30 a.m., Old Main, Room 404.

-- Staff members -- 10:30-11:30 a.m., Old Main, Room 404.

-- Tenured faculty -- 12:30-1:30 p.m., Energy Innovation Center, Room 209 (BP Collaboration Room).

-- Untenured faculty -- 1:30-2:30 p.m., Energy Innovation Center, Room 209 (BP Collaboration Room).

-- Wyoming EPSCoR and INBRE employees -- 2:30-3:30 p.m., Energy Innovation Center, Room 209 (BP Collaboration Room).

-- Office of Research and Economic Development employees -- 3:30-4:30 p.m., Energy Innovation Center, Room 209 (BP Collaboration Room).

The search committee is chaired by Michael Pishko, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

“We invite everyone to attend these sessions and provide their perspectives on the desired qualifications and expertise for our next vice president for research and economic development,” Pishko says.

Finalists for the job selected by the committee are expected to come to campus for interviews and campus meetings. The committee’s recommendations will go to Provost Kate Miller and President Laurie Nichols who, in turn, will give their recommendations to the UW Board of Trustees. The objective is to have a new vice president in place by Aug. 1.

The role of the vice president for research and economic development is to support and facilitate the research efforts of UW's faculty, staff and students; direct the university's research mission as a public research university; promote the university's research program with stakeholders; and direct technology transfer and commercialization efforts for UW intellectual property.

Anyone with questions or input should email Pishko at mpishko@uwyo.edu.