Leadership Transition in Research Enterprise Announced

The George Washington University has announced that Evangeline J. Downie, associate dean for research and strategic initiatives in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, leader of the arts and sciences research support team and professor of physics, has been named interim vice president for research, effective July 10.

"Professor Downie has years of experience leading critical teams within GW's research ecosystem, always with an eye on more effectively supporting faculty, staff, students and postdocs, improving processes and policies and building community to create the greatest impact," Interim Provost John Lach said. "Her knowledge, experience and focus on academic excellence will be a tremendous asset to GW during this period of transition."

Since 2020, Downie has led the arts and sciences research support team, a portfolio encompassing six schools and all provost-led units. In this role, Downie has supported over 200 principal investigators, over 500 awards and up to 300 proposals a year while expanding staffing and enhancing collaboration across schools and the research enterprise.

"I am grateful to Professor Downie for her willingness to engage full time in the role of interim vice president for research," Provost-Designate Ed Balleisen said. "Amid a more complicated funding and regulatory environment, we are committed to advancing GW's multifaceted research endeavors and achieving the aspirations of the Strategic Framework. Professor Downie will be a crucial partner in those endeavors."

Downie has also served as CCAS associate dean for research and strategic initiatives since 2019. In that role, she has advanced research and built interdisciplinary collaboration and community. She supervises a team of research administrators and collaborates with central offices to deliver critical workshops and training for faculty and postdocs. Programmatic enhancements under Downie's leadership, such as the CCAS Research Showcase and the CCAS Early Career Brown Bag Lunch Series, have contributed to the strong culture of research in the college.

As interim vice president, Downie will have full-time responsibility to advance the research-related priorities of the Strategic Framework. Among her key priorities will be overseeing and improving research administration, operations, infrastructure and compliance across the university. Her work will be informed by engagement with the Faculty Senate Research Committee and faculty advisory groups, including a working group being created to improve support for clinical research, which will be led by clinical faculty and staff and include researchers from every GW school taking part in clinical research. An early focus will be filling currently open positions in GW's research offices.

"I am humbled and honored to be selected as the interim vice president for research," Downie said. "I look forward to collaborating closely with the team in OVPR, the schools and senior leadership to support the creative, scholarly and research efforts of GW's faculty, staff, students and postdocs. We will work together to prioritize the goals of the Strategic Framework, continue to build a research ecosystem that will extend the impact of GW's scholarship and appropriately support the people who drive that core aspect of our collective mission."

Prior to her leadership roles in the research enterprise, Downie served as the CCAS associate dean for assessment and academic support, where she was responsible for strengthening general education and program assessment, academic program reviews and program accreditation in the school.

"Professor Downie's selection to this position is a much-deserved recognition of her remarkable contributions as a tireless advocate for research, scholarship and creative activity across the college and the university during a particularly challenging time for our nation's research enterprise," said Paul Wahlbeck, dean of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.

Downie, a member of GW's faculty since 2012, is an expert in experimental nuclear physics. She succeeds Robert H. Miller, who after two years of service will step down as interim vice president to return full time to the School of Medicine and Health Sciences and his other roles as vice dean, Vivian Gill Distinguished Research Professor and professor of anatomy and cell biology, as well as focus on the Capital Medical Group transition.

"Bob Miller has played an integral role in advancing research at GW as interim vice president, and he has my deepest thanks for his committed service over the past two years and for his support of Professor Downie during this transition," Lach said. "He is an invaluable member of GW's research community, and I look forward to celebrating his many contributions and accomplishments as interim vice president for research over the next month."

Lach and Balleisen solicited and considered nominations and self-nominations for the interim vice president for research role, and Balleisen will launch a search for a permanent vice president in the fall.