Riding the Momentum of Research: Leadership Challenges in Public Research Universities

The Barn, Valley Falls, KS

July 21-23, 2004

At the 8th annual retreat in its series The Research Mission of Public Universities, the Merrill Center hosted 20 senior administrators and faculty from the four Heartland states – Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. The keynote speaker, Mary Sue Coleman, President of the University of Michigan, talked about Michigan’s success in attracting major investments for research facilities. Conference participants talked about launching a new regional initiative that could significantly advance the research funding potential for each institution in the four-state partnership. Three other Chancellors attended: Bob Hemenway (KU), Harvey Perlman (Nebraska ), and Jon Wefald (President - K-State), as well as Dave Shulenburger (Provost – KU). Keith Yehle, Legislative Director for Senator Pat Roberts, is also a regular participant. 

Pictured standing, left to right: Ron Trewyn, Jon Josserand, Lisa Freeman, David Shulenburger, Prem Paul, Jim Bloedel, Meredith Hay, George Wilson, Bob Woody, Jim Roberts, Susan Sheridan, Robert Brown, Keith Yehle, Joy Simpson. Seated: Barbara Atkinson, Steve Warren, Kim Wilcox, Jon Wefald, Harvey Perlman, Mary Sue Coleman, Robert Hemenway, Mabel Rice, Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, Robert Barnhill, Dick Schiefelbusch

Resource

Standing, left to right: Ron Trewyn, Jon Josserand, Lisa Freeman, David Shulenburger, Prem Paul, Jim Bloedel, Meredith Hay, George Wilson, Bob Woody, Jim Roberts, Susan Sheridan, Robert Brown, Keith Yehle, Joy Simpson. Seated: Barbara Atkinson, Steve Warren, Kim Wilcox, Jon Wefald, Harvey Perlman, Mary Sue Coleman, Robert Hemenway, Mabel Rice, Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, Robert Barnhill, Dick Schiefelbusch

Retreat Participants 

Keynote Speaker 

  • Mary Sue Coleman, Ph.D., President, University of Michigan 

Iowa State University of Science and Technology 

  • James R. Bloedel, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Research 
  • Robert C. Brown, Ph.D., Professor and Director, Office of Biorenewables Programs 

Kansas State University 

  • Lisa Freeman, DVM, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Veterinary Medicine, and Director of Mentored Training 
  • Ron W. Trewyn, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, and President, KSU Research Foundation 
  • Jon Wefald, University President 

University of Kansas 

  • Barbara Atkinson, M.D., Executive Dean, School of Medicine, and incoming Executive Vice Chancellor – KU Medical Center 
  • Robert E. Barnhill, Ph.D., Past President and Senior Scholar, KU Center for Research, and member of the Merrill Board 
  • Robert Hemenway, Ph.D., Chancellor 
  • Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, Ph.D., Senior Vice Provost and Merrill Board member 
  • Mabel L. Rice, Ph.D., The Fred and Virginia Merrill Professor of Advanced Studies and Director of the Merrill Center 
  • James Roberts, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Research and President, KU Center for Research 
  • Richard Schiefelbusch, Ph.D., Director Emeritus of the Life Span Institute and the Merrill Center, and member of the Merrill Board 
  • David E. Shulenburger, Ph.D., Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost of the Lawrence campus 
  • Joy Simpson, M.A., Program Administrator of the Merrill Center 
  • Steven F. Warren, Ph.D., Director, Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, and member of the Merrill Board 
  • Kim A. Wilcox, Ph.D., Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Merrill Board member 
  • George Wilson, Ph.D., Higuchi Professor of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and Associate Vice Provost for Research 

University of Missouri 

  • Meredith Hay, Ph.D., Professor and Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs 

University of Nebraska - Lincoln 

  • Prem S. Paul, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies 
  • Harvey Perlman, J.D., Chancellor 
  • Susan M. Sheridan, Ph.D., Willa Cather Professor and Professor of Educational Psychology, and Director, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools 

Other Participants 

  • Jon Josserand, Assistant for Governmental Relations, University of Kansas  
  • Robert Woody, KU Counsel in Washington, D.C. 
  • Keith Yehle, Legislative Director, Office of Senator Pat Roberts 

 

Agenda 

The Barn, Valley Falls, Kansas 

July 21-23, 2004  

Wednesday, July 21 

Opening reception 

Dinner 

  • Welcome by Mabel Rice, Director of the Merrill Center at KU  
  • Update on Developments in Graduate Education Nationally – Robert Barnhill 

Thursday, July 22 

Breakfast 

Introductory Remarks – Mabel Rice 

  • Introduction of Keynote Speaker – Chancellor Robert Hemenway 

Keynote Address 

  • Mary Sue Coleman, President, University of Michigan, “The Research Mission of Public Universities” 
  • Discussion – Moderator, Robert Hemenway 

Break 

Researchers Panel 

  • George Wilson, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, University of Kansas, “Two Perspectives on Collaboration: Researcher and Administrator” 
  • Meredith Hay, Professor of Physiology, Dept. of Veterinary Biomedical Research, University of Missouri - Columbia, "Non-zero-sum Game Research Strategies in Times of Flat Federal Research Budgets"  
  • Robert C. Brown, Distinguished Professor in Thermal Science, Iowa State University, “The Bioeconomy: Building a Campus-Wide Initiative from a National Priority” 
  • Discussion – Moderator, Kim Wilcox 

Lunch 

University Presidents Panel 

  • Robert Hemenway, Chancellor, University of Kansas, “Life Sciences Research and the Kansas Bio-Science Authority” 
  • Jon Wefald, President, Kansas State University, “The Perspective of One Land-Grant Institution” 
  • Harvey Perlman, Chancellor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, “Good to Great in Public Research Universities” 
  • Discussion – Moderator, Barbara Atkinson 

Break 

Research Administrators Panel 

  • James Bloedel, Vice Provost for Research and Advanced Studies, Iowa State University for Science and Technology, “Economic Development Challenges for a Land Grant University” 
  • Ron Trewyn, Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, Kansas State University, “Challenges in Changing Times: Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way” 
  • James Roberts, Vice Provost for Research, University of Kansas, “Riding the Momentum: Interdisciplinary Research Center to Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs” 
  • Discussion – Moderator, Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett 

Break 

Dinner 

Friday, July 23, 2004 

Breakfast 

Opening Remarks – Mabel Rice 

Research Administrators Panel 

  • Prem Paul, Vice Chancellor for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, “Engaging Faculty in Leading Collaborative Research” 
  • Steven Warren, Director, Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, University of Kansas, “Setting Priorities for Behavioral Research at the Institute for Life Span Studies” 
  • Discussion – Moderator, Mabel Rice 

Researchers Panel 

  • Lisa Freeman, Professor of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, "Research Centers and Institutes: A Survey of Our Schizophrenia" 
  • Susan Sheridan, Distinguished Professor, Dept. of Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, “Building on Strengths: The Development of an Interdisciplinary Research Center” 
  • Discussion – Moderator, Mabel Rice 

Conference Summary and Comments – David Shulenburger 

Lunch