CHANGES ANNOUNCED FOR OFFICE OF RESEARCH & GRADUATE STUDIES

After serving two years as associate vice president for research and graduate studies, Michael Dingerson has stepped down to join the Darden College of Education as professor of higher education in the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling.

Robert Ash, eminent scholar of aerospace engineering, who led the Office of Research, Economic Development and Graduate Studies from 1995-98, will return as interim associate vice president for research and graduate studies beginning Aug. 1. A national search will begin this fall.

The responsibilities for research and graduate studies will be divided between Ash and Carole Seyfrit, assistant vice president for research and graduate studies. Seyfrit will handle all aspects of graduate studies within the office, including external review of doctoral programs, administration of university policies and procedures, and new program proposals. She also will chair the National Prominence Committee.

Until Ash assumes his position Aug. 1, Polly Newlon, director of research development, will assume the functional lead for research development activities. This includes ongoing activities related to the Virginia Advanced Shipbuilding and Carrier Integration Center, the Commonwealth Technology Research Fund, representation of the institution in the Hampton Roads Research Partnership, and planning of a regional Science and Technology Summit to be held in August.

Clovia Ann Hamilton joined the university July 1 as intellectual property and compliance manager. She received a juris doctor degree in 1996 from John Marshall Law School and a bachelor's in civil engineering in 1988 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is currently a master of law candidate in the intellectual property law program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Law.

Since, 2000, Hamilton has been an attorney in the Office of Technology Management at the University of Illinois. Prior to that she worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Lab and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Leigh Comsudis, who provided administrative support to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, accepted a position in the Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance on June 18.

With renovations completed, the Office of Research and Graduate Studies has moved to 212 Koch Hall.