U News | Vanderbilt names its inaugural Executive Director for Science and Technology Strategy
Tennessee Tech University awards its highest honor for only the second time to NASA Astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore.
From Vanderbilt University:
Underscoring Vanderbilt’s commitment to accelerating its impact in research and innovation at the national and global levels, Padma Raghavan has been appointed to the newly created role of the Chancellor’s Executive Director for Science and Technology Strategy, reporting directly to Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, beginning July 1.
A distinguished professor and internationally recognized leader in supercomputing and computational science and engineering, Raghavan joined Vanderbilt in 2016 and has served as Vice Provost for Research and Innovation and as Chief Research Officer while acting as a senior advisor to Diermeier. In her new role, she will ensure that the university’s goals related to science and technology reflect their significance as one of the university’s strategic priorities.
“Padma has overseen and dramatically expanded the university’s research portfolio, leveraging her remarkable experience and expertise to drive Vanderbilt’s vision as a catalyst and incubator of innovation,” Diermeier said. “A brilliant strategist and collaborator, she has been central to the development of long-term partnerships that position Vanderbilt as a global hub for research and technology. Now more than ever, I’m thrilled for Padma to join the Office of the Chancellor, where her leadership will be instrumental in shaping our strategic direction and reinforcing Vanderbilt’s role as a leader in scientific and technological advancement.”
From Tennessee Tech University:
When Tennessee Tech University’s Board of Trustees held its quarterly meeting on June 26, its most recognizable trustee was back in his seat for the first time in more than a year. The meeting marked NASA Astronaut, two-time Tech graduate and university trustee Barry “Butch” Wilmore‘s first return to campus since the historic 286-day stay at the International Space Station that made him a household name.
Wilmore was greeted with an afternoon full of heartfelt surprises, including the awarding of the Order of the Eagle, Tech’s highest honor. According to the award criteria, the honor is “reserved for individuals whose impact on the university and its reputation are unparalleled.” It has only been awarded once previously in Tech’s 110-year history when the honor was bestowed posthumously to former Tech President and First Lady Everett and Joan Derryberry during the university’s centennial celebration in 2015.
From the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga:
Dr. Lori Bruce officially assumed her role as Chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) on Monday, becoming the 19th leader in the University’s history.
Bruce, whose appointment was approved by the UT Board of Trustees on May 16, comes to UTC after serving as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Tennessee Tech University since 2018. In that role, she oversaw all academic operations and led research and strategic planning efforts for more than 10,000 students across eight academic colleges.
“Today marks my first official day as chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and I couldn’t be more honored to join this extraordinary community,” Bruce wrote in a note to staff, faculty, and students. “UTC has a long and proud tradition of being a ‘light upon a hill’—a place of opportunity, academic excellence and impact. From our deep ties to the city of Chattanooga to our national reputation for innovation and hands-on learning, UTC stands out as a University where students thrive, faculty inspire and partnerships create real impact.”
From the University of Alabama:
The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Peter J. Mohler as the 30th President of The University of Alabama, the state’s flagship university. He will assume the role on July 21.
A distinguished leader with over 20 years of experience in higher education, Mohler currently serves as Executive Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge at The Ohio State University (OSU) and Chief Scientific Officer of OSU’s Wexner Medical Center. He served as the university’s acting President in 2023, successfully leading one of the largest public flagships in the nation.
“Dr. Mohler is uniquely equipped to build upon The University of Alabama’s strong foundation and lead this institution into an even brighter future,” said UA System Chancellor Sid J. Trant, who recommended Mohler’s appointment to the Board. “He is a champion for the power of public higher education to transform lives and communities through teaching, research, and service, and he will advance our flagship mission through his bold, student-centered, and visionary leadership.”
From the University of South Florida:
The Florida High Tech Corridor, in partnership with University of South Florida Research & Innovation, has announced the latest recipients of the Early-Stage Innovation Fund awards. This initiative supports pioneering research projects with significant commercial potential, providing each selected faculty-led team with up to $25,000 in seed funding to advance their innovations toward market readiness.
Past awardees have leveraged this funding to launch start-up companies, expand industry and community partnerships, and secure more than $650,000 in further investment and grant funding. The latest awardees reflect the breadth of innovation emerging across the university, with projects addressing critical global challenges — from advancing healthcare training and personalized education to revolutionizing diagnostic technologies, wearable rehabilitation, environmental monitoring, and next-generation security solutions.
From Seton Hall University:
Seton Hall University has announced the launch of ImpactNJ: Urban Ventures Collaborative, a dynamic new community-based entrepreneurship program that will serve as a catalyst for early stage business owners in underserved communities across northern New Jersey.
Set to begin in January 2026, the program is part of the nationally recognized Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI) led by the University of Notre Dame, a growing network of universities and nonprofit partners across the globe working together to address poverty through the lens of entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
Seton Hall joins this powerful coalition of higher education institutions that are committed to building bridges between university resources and communities in need. UPBI programs are active in more than 50 U.S. cities and globally, all aligned under a shared belief: entrepreneurship is a learnable journey and a powerful vehicle for economic mobility and community empowerment.
From the University of Colorado Boulder:
Boulder Climate Ventures (BCV), a program at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business, fosters climate tech entrepreneurship. Through a robust curriculum and a strong focus on community building, BCV allows students to take risks, explore breakthrough technologies, and understand the commercial viability of an idea in as real an environment as possible.
The ultimate goal of Boulder Climate Ventures is that Colorado Boulder students go on to launch or participate in a high growth, scalable climate tech company. Additionally, BCV will accelerate venture capital deployment to the Rocky Mountain West and create a regional hub for founders,
researchers and investors focused on climate technologies.
Led by the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility (CESR) and the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, BCV is funded by Breakthrough Energy, and modeled after the successful Stanford Climate Ventures program.
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