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Dear Wayne State University community, I am excited to announce two significant developments marking a new chapter in Wayne State University's commitment to research excellence and innovation, opening the doors to increased funding opportunities through enhanced support for our faculty researchers. Welcome, Dr. Ezemenari ObasiFirst, please join me in officially welcoming Vice President for Research Ezemenari Obasi, Ph.D., to Wayne State University! Dr. Obasi's appointment was announced early last month following a robust selection process and yesterday received final approval from the Board of Governors. Dr. Obasi steps into his new role today, bringing a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success. Dr. Obasi's journey to Wayne State is marked by notable achievements and dedicated service. Most recently, he served as the associate vice president for research administration at the University of Houston (UH), which was distinguished by his significant contributions to population health research, with a particular focus on addressing health disparities in urban communities. As the founder and director of the university's HEALTH Research Institute, Dr. Obasi spearheaded the NIH/NIMHD-funded U54-RCMI Center for Addictions Research and Cancer Prevention. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing health equity initiatives, especially within Black and Latino/a communities, and contributed to a substantial growth in institutional research excellence, reflected in UH's rise in institutional ranking from 140 to 113 over the last decade. Dr. Obasi's deep commitment to addressing urban health disparities aligns seamlessly with our mission and opportunities ahead. His expertise in fostering team science, forging external partnerships, and developing robust research policies and strategies will greatly enhance our research capabilities and competitiveness across the university. Wayne State is among the nation's top public research universities — I know he will work tirelessly to support our faculty in developing and executing innovative scholarly research that advances our collective impact and accelerates our competitiveness amongst peers in accordance with our strategic plan. I once again extend my gratitude to Dr. Timothy Stemmler for his important service as the interim vice president for research and to the search advisory committee, led by Acting Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Laurie Lauzon Clabo, for its diligent efforts in this successful search. Announcing our partnership with Lewis-Burke Associates LLCI am equally excited to announce our strategic investment in supporting our faculty in their scholarly research through a new partnership with Lewis-Burke Associates LLC, a leading federal relations consulting and lobbying firm based in Washington, D.C, with a special focus on agency engagement. To better advance the success and visibility of the scholarship of our faculty to national decision-makers, this partnership will be led by Dr. Obasi and the Division of Research staff, with secondary assistance by Patrick O. Lindsey to coordinate any needed implementation with the delegation in his role as vice president of government and community affairs. Lewis-Burke, renowned for its extensive experience in federal strategy and systematic advocacy, brings to the table a deep understanding of the intricacies of federal funding and the policy landscape. Lewis-Burke LLC has more than 40 dedicated lobbying professionals, as well as a large professional staff with deep agency expertise. Over the company's 32-year history, its strong record of successful collaborations with research universities and scientific organizations are a testament to its staff's ability to effectively navigate and influence the federal research funding environment, including support for securing large national center of excellence grants, congressionally directed projects and partnership hubs. Moreover, Wayne State will gain access to strategic funding intelligence that will inform our research investments and better position our faculty to anticipate and strategically align their efforts to be competitive for future funding opportunities. This partnership aims to significantly enhance Wayne State's engagement with key federal agencies, increase our visibility and recognition in federal government circles, and align our research strengths with emerging federal funding priorities. Lewis-Burke's expertise will be instrumental in expanding our success in faculty's pursuit of federal research support from key agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, in addition to the National Institutes of Health. For our faculty, this new partnership will provide increased support with grant proposals, broaden funding channels, and offer new collaboration opportunities with government agencies and partner universities. This partnership is an important step in our mission to elevate Wayne State University as a leader in innovative research and academic excellence. We thoughtfully evaluated several proposals and engaged in comprehensive interviews to select Lewis-Burke for its proven expertise and alignment with our strategic objectives. Their contract starts March 1, and planning is underway for a campus onboarding visit later this winter semester, which will allow university faculty and school/college leadership to meet with the Lewis-Burke team members and kick off their work. Looking aheadWe are enthusiastic about the synergies this partnership will bring, including increased support for our faculty and alignment with our strategic plan. Detailed plans for collaboration and engagement, both on our campus and in Washington, D.C., are underway, and further information will be shared as it becomes available. In conclusion, I warmly welcome Dr. Obasi to our community and eagerly anticipate the advancements our collaboration with Lewis-Burke will bring. These developments herald a promising future for Wayne State University's faculty and our scholarly research impact. Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our shared vision of academic excellence. Sincerely,
Kimberly Andrews Espy, Ph.D. |
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