Dear Colleagues,
I’m pleased to announce that Robin Beach will serve as the new Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation for Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA), beginning November 16, pending approval by University of Illinois Board of Trustees. In this vital role, Robin will lead a team of 70 experts who manage our $865M research portfolio, supporting more than 1,700 investigators across campus.
The job is big, as well as complex, and Robin is well-equipped to lead us through the challenges ahead. She brings to the position over 30 years of leadership experience, including 16 years at SPA, most recently as Director of Pre-Award. In that role, Robin has provided strategic and operational leadership for a portfolio encompassing more than 3,200 proposal submissions and 6,000 award transactions annually. My office received overwhelming support for Robin’s candidacy (including feedback from nearly 400 stakeholders).
Robin will report directly to Sharee Robinson, Executive Associate Vice Chancellor, who also oversees Business and Finance, Human Resources, Research Application Development, and the Office of Research Security. As in the past, Robin will be a critical member of my senior cabinet in the OVCRI.
Robin’s appointment will overlap with Dave Richardson’s final days as Executive Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at SPA. Dave is retiring after 12 years of service to the U. of I. His leadership in research administration, a career he entered in 1992, has shaped not only what research support looks like at Illinois, but also across the country and beyond.
Join me in thanking Dave for his tremendous contributions and congratulating Robin as she takes the baton.
Sincerely,
SUSAN A MARTINIS
Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation
Stephen G. Sligar Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Professor of Biochemistry