President Steven Knapp recently announced the creation of a vice presidency for research and allocation of $5.4 million to facilitate growth. The person selected will serve as the University’s chief research officer and will be charged with helping realize the research goals expressed in the University’s Strategic Plan for Academic Excellence, as well as the development of new initiatives.

Knapp also committed to invest an additional $5.4 million over three years in GW’s internal research enterprise. These investments will be focused on improving GW’s administrative infrastructure to aid faculty members in procuring external funding for their research/scholarship, growing the University Facilitating Fund, growing the Research Enhancement Fund, and creating a special Chief Research Officer’s Startup Fund to help seed new research undertakings.

“With the right kind of leadership and the right investments in infrastructure and new initiatives, I am confident that GW can achieve its remarkable potential as the premier research university in the nation's capital,” said Knapp. “Since arriving on campus six months ago, I have been listening carefully to the advice of faculty and other members of the GW community about the need for better coordination and for a more strategic approach to strengthening research across the disciplines.  This new position, and the new investments that go with it, will benefit not only our faculty but students who want to share the excitement of cutting-edge research.”

For more information, read the University press release.