Dr. Leslie Tolbert, a University of Arizona neurobiologist, has been chosen to succeed current vice president for research Dick Powell on June 30. Pending approval by the Arizona Board of Regents, Tolbert will step into the highest administrative research position at the university, where she will oversee more than $500 million in annual research grants.

As the vice-president of research, graduate studies, and economic development, Tolbert says her main goal is to break into the top 10 research universities in the U.S. UA currently ranks 16th. "What separates us from other schools in the top 10 isn't the quality of our faculty as much as a lack of support. We need to raise more grant funds, and we can," she told the Arizona Daily Star

The Tucson Citizen reported that two of Tolbert's other priorities will be getting more women and minorities involved in the sciences and breaking down the disciplinary silos around campus. "The big problems of the day that we face in society won't be solved in a single discipline," Tolbert told the Citizen.

Tolbert, 54, has been at UA since she moved there from Georgetown University Medical School in 1987. She received a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics and her doctorate in anatomy from Harvard University.

Up north in Tempe, another top research appointment was recently announced, that of Dr. Kathleen Matt as assistant vice president for research at Arizona State University.

In her new post, Matt will oversee ASU's expanding biomedical research area and continue to help orchestrate ASU's role in the new UA medical school planned for downtown Phoenix. For 17 years, Matt has been a professor of kinesiology at ASU and is also director of clinical partnerships with local health care facilities, a role she will maintain in addition to her new research post.

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For more information:

"Tolbert heads research at UA, says it's poised to join top 10," Arizona Daily Star, 05/28/2005

"UA names new vice president for research, graduate studies, and economic development," Tucson Citizen, 05/31/2005

ASU news release, 05/20/2005

Leslie Tolbert web page

Kathleen Matt web page