Research Council Decision Sends A Strong Message

Old Dominion University recognizes that cutting-edge research leads to state-of-the-art teaching. That's why my recent appointment as chair of the Council of Presidents of the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) is important for the University.

It recognizes that we rate with the top research institutions worldwide. And it serves as a stamp of approval for our collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to research.

SURA represents more than 60 institutions with nationally competitive research programs. The association is the majority partner of Jefferson Science Associates LLC, which operates and manages the Jefferson Laboratory in Newport News. The lab is one of the U.S. Department of Energy's 17 national laboratories, which set the pace for fundamental and applied research internationally.

Old Dominion's multiple connections with J-Lab illustrate the success and vision of our research enterprise. We have more faculty and student engagement and more researcher exchanges with the lab than does any other university. Old Dominion's Center for Accelerator Science has become a key partner, and it also is conducting groundbreaking work with CERN, the world's largest particle physics lab in Europe.

This appointment comes as the University has reached a record $51 million in annual research expenditures. Our work - from bioelectrics to cybersecurity to resilience - has yielded pragmatic, usable solutions to society's most pressing problems.

I'm proud to succeed presidents of such institutions as George Washington, Louisiana State and Virginia Tech as chair of SURA's Council of Presidents. My goal will be to encourage similar collaboration and innovation among the association's members, as well as lift our own research program to new heights.