MSU announces interim VP for research and economic development
With David Shaw announced as its next provost and executive vice president, Mississippi State University has announced a temporary replacement for his former position.
On Thursday, the university announced that former MSU Research and Curriculum Unit Director Julie Jordan will serve as interim vice president for research and economic development for the university. She will assume her new duties on July 1, pending approval by the Board of Trustees for State Institutions of Higher Learning. Jordan is an MSU alumna, and led the RCU for seven years. She currently serves as vice president for international programs director of the MSU International Institute. She also has worked for the university’s Mississippi State Community Action Team.
“I have long admired Dr. Jordan’s leadership skills and solid work ethic,” said MSU President Mark Keenum. “I have every confidence she will do an outstanding job as interim vice president for research and economic development.”
Shaw also spoke highly of Jordan’s accomplishments and capabilities.
“Julie brings a great deal of relevant experience to this important position,” Shaw said. “Throughout her MSU career, she has stepped up to serve in important leadership roles. I appreciate her commitment to nurturing and growing our academic partnerships and research collaborations.”
For the most recent year reported, MSU ranks 64th among all engineering colleges nationwide in research and development expenditures, ninth in agriculture sciences, and 175h in social sciences. MSU is also listed as 94th overall among public and private institutions in the country by the National Science Foundation’s Research and Development Survey based on nearly $241 million in total research and development expenditures.