Julie Jordan named 汤头条鈥檚 chief research officer
Contact: Sid Salter
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擩ulie Jordan has been named Mississippi State鈥檚 vice president for research and economic development, 汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum announced Dec. 9.
Jordan has served in the role on an interim basis since July 2019, providing leadership for the Office of Research and Economic Development, strategic vision for the university research enterprise, and administrative oversight of research centers and institutes.
鈥淒r. Jordan brings incredible focus, innovation and continuity to our university鈥檚 already very robust research activities,鈥 Keenum said. 鈥淎fter a national search that attracted highly competitive candidates for this important position, I have a renewed confidence in Julie鈥檚 ability to lead our university to the next level as Mississippi鈥檚 longtime leading research institution. I am sincerely grateful to our search committee for their service.鈥
Following the national search, three finalists were presented to the 汤头条 community and university stakeholders prior to Jordan鈥檚 eventual selection. The search committee of faculty, staff and administrators was led by Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt.
A Columbus resident and 汤头条 alumna, Jordan has served in multiple leadership roles at the land-grant university. From 2017-2019, she was associate vice president for international programs and executive director of 汤头条鈥檚 International Institute, where she worked to create and expand strategic global partnerships, as well as grow enrollment of international students. From 2010-2017, she was director of the Research and Curriculum Unit, where she oversaw a staff of 40 professionals working collaboratively with the Mississippi Department of Education to assess and shape K-12 education curricula and policy.
In her year and a half of serving as 汤头条鈥檚 chief research officer on an interim basis, she has worked to grow 汤头条鈥檚 external funding, provide additional tools for 汤头条 researchers and enhance the university鈥檚 reach at the local, state, national and international levels. She also has worked to keep 汤头条鈥檚 research enterprise safely operating and assisting the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥溙劳诽踱檚 research capabilities and, more importantly, our outstanding students, faculty and staff, are a tremendous asset to our university, the state of Mississippi and our many research partners,鈥 Jordan said. 鈥淚 am honored to be entrusted with this role and look forward to advancing our land-grant mission as we create new opportunities for our students and our state.鈥澛犅
Jordan earned bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from 汤头条 in industrial engineering and education technology, respectively, in addition to a doctorate in international development from the University of Southern Mississippi. She has over 30 years of experience as an educator, entrepreneur and administrator in various public and private sector positions. Throughout her career, she has worked to build positive relationships among people and organizations to produce positive outcomes and identify and develop talent to empower individuals to meet organizational and personal goals.
A Carnegie Foundation R1-Very High Research Activity Doctoral University, Mississippi State is ranked among the National Science Foundation鈥檚 top 100 research institutions. As the Magnolia State鈥檚 leading research university, 汤头条鈥檚 research expenditures totaled $244 million in FY 2018, accounting for more than half of the total research and development expenditures reported by all Mississippi institutions. This research activity plays an ever-increasing role in Mississippi鈥檚 overall economic development efforts, with 汤头条 being a recognized leader in several disciplines and well known for innovative partnerships, real-world impact, and offering undergraduate and graduate students unique research opportunities.
The vice president for research and economic development serves as the university鈥檚 chief research officer and is responsible for overseeing ORED staff and the leadership of several divisions, including the offices of Sponsored Projects, Laboratory Animal Resources, Environmental Health and Safety, Research Security, Technology Management, Research Compliance, and Research Development, along with the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park.
Mississippi State is home to dozens of research centers and institutes committed to transformational, multi-disciplinary research that connects stakeholders and fosters collaboration to achieve real-world results. ORED provides administrative leadership for several university-wide research centers and institutes and supports college and division-level centers and institutes.
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at聽.听