Vice President Research, Creative Activity, and Economic Development

Overview

New Mexico State University (NMSU) invites nominations and applications for the role of Vice President for Research, Creativity, and Economic Development (VPRCED). Reporting to the President, the VPRCED serves as the University’s Chief Research Officer, guiding research efforts across a broad portfolio, including collaborative and interdisciplinary initiatives at a significant scale. FY24 research expenditures totaled $143 million. The next VPRCED will leverage and enhance NMSU’s 2025 R1 designation to grow the research enterprise, enhance national and global visibility, and align efforts to support ongoing student success through focused investment in innovation within the university’s land‑grant, space‑grant, and water‑resource missions.

• Work closely with academic and community colleges to integrate and enhance research activities for university‑wide strategic growth.
• Provide leadership for acquiring research funding, planning and developing academic research space, research commercialization, incubating new companies, recruiting corporate research partners, and public outreach.
• Oversee a research enterprise where 58% of funding comes from federal agencies, requiring expertise in federal funding priorities and trends.
• Expand industry‑funded research initiatives and build partnerships with National Laboratories such as Los Alamos, Sandia, the Air Force Research Laboratory, White Sands Missile Range, Spaceport America, and NASA White Sands Test Facility.
• Act as the lead institution for the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program in New Mexico and serve as a NASA resource for affiliated faculty and researchers through the statewide NM Space Grant Consortium.
• Leverage NMSU’s strengths in agricultural research, water‑related research, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, biosciences, radionuclide research, mechanical and aerospace engineering, and other institutional excellence areas.

• Extensive and demonstrated leadership experience, including responsibility for large research ecosystems at a major institution.
• A proven track record in driving technology commercialization, securing industry partnerships, and scaling university‑based intellectual property portfolios.
• Experience scaling intellectual property and technology transfer efforts, growing industry‑funded research initiatives, and leading commercialization strategies.
• An earned terminal degree with extensive scholarly, professional, and leadership achievements.

NMSU does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, retaliation, serious medical condition, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, spousal affiliation, or protected veteran status in its programs and activities, including admissions, as required by state and federal law and University policy. NMSU’s Office of Institutional Equity receives and processes internal complaints of unlawful discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and sexual misconduct on behalf of NMSU.

If you believe you have been treated in a manner inconsistent with equal opportunity, contact the Office of Institutional Equity.

NMSU has designated a Title IX Coordinator responsible for ensuring compliance with Title IX and other state and federal laws addressing sexual and gender‑based harassment, including sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking, and other forms of sexual misconduct based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. NMSU recognizes that individuals with disabilities are entitled to access, support, and reasonable accommodation.

William Nutt is assigned to coordinate compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504, and other laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in admission, treatment, and/or access to its programs and activities.

Inquiries may be directed to the Executive Director, Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity at P.O. Box 30001,

E. 1130 University Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88003; ;  (TTY) equity.