Chief Research Officer of Georgetown University

Leadership Profile

The Leadership Profile is intended to provide information about Georgetown University and the position of Chief Research Officer. It is designed to assist qualified individuals in assessing their interest in the opening.

The Opportunity

Georgetown University, the nation’s oldest Catholic and Jesuit University, seeks a Chief Research Officer (CRO).

Georgetown University, located in the heart of Washington, DC, is a leading R-1 research University steeped in the tradition of liberal education with a mission dedicated to Catholic, Jesuit principles including public service (“women and men in service to others”) and Cura Personalis (“care of the whole person”). Locally and globally, the faculty conduct the highest level of research, and educate thousands of students, while caring for the most vulnerable among us. With a dedication to mission and guided by impressive leadership, it is ranked among the country’s top twenty-five universities.

The University is on a remarkable growth trajectory, most recently noted by the acquisition and building of new spaces downtown at its Capitol Campus, near its law school. Additionally, the University has added new, large, and valuable facilities and has allocated space for interdisciplinary research centers, executive education, and infrastructure for a growing student population. As the university is expanding, it is also devoting much attention to integrating research and education activities both for graduate and undergraduate students.

With the strong support of the Board and the President, the University is now positioned to take advantage of its partnership opportunities, research excellence, and educational marketplace to build in every dimension and across research, teaching, and philanthropy. It seeks an inventive, entrepreneurial CRO who can galvanize its people and maximize its research opportunities.

The Chief Research Officer (CRO) will enable all areas of scholarship, research, creative activity, and innovation at the university. Reporting to the President, the CRO will oversee a new central research administration and coordinate a strategic vision, mission, goals, and success indicators for research at the university in partnership with key stakeholders. This newly configured senior leadership position is a key outcome of the university’s research organization project that aims to: 1) maximize the growth of faculty research through improved coordination and increased efficiency of research support, 2) grow the university’s research reputation, including through enhanced advocacy and communications about our research mission and impact, and 3) bring the university’s research impact in line with peer institutions.

Nominations and Inquiries

Georgetown University has retained the national executive search firm Spencer Stuart to
assist in this search. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications should be sent to GeorgetownCRO@SpencerStuart.com.

Search Committee for Chief Research Officer, Georgetown University

Carlo Tornatore, M.D., Chair
Professor and Chair, Department of Neurology, and Chair and Neurologist-in-Chief, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital 

Kevin Arlyck, J.D.
Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Academic Programs, Georgetown University Law Center

Michael B. Atkins, M.D.
Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Oncology, and Deputy Director, Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

Kristi Graves, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Oncology, and Associate Dean for Faculty Development, Georgetown University Medical Center

Carole Roan Gresenz, Ph.D.
Professor and Dean, McCourt School of Public Policy

Nathan Hensley, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of English

Elissa Newport, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Neurology, and Director, Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery  

Peter Olmsted, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Physics

Nitin Vaidya, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Computer Science

Search Support:

Ponneh Varho
Spencer Stuart

Shailaja Panjwani
Spencer Stuart

Michael Steck
Spencer Stuart

Erin Boas
Spencer Stuart

Marie Mattson
Secretary, Georgetown University