Provost Office: Memorandum
To: All Faculty and Staff
From: Dr. Stephen Director, Provost
Subject: Changes in the Office of the Vice Provost for Research
Date: 06 March 2006
I regret to announce that Dr. Bill Stephenson will be stepping down as vice provost for research to go on full-time medical disability.
Dr. Stephenson joined Drexel in 2003, at a critical time in the University's development as one of America's best research institutions. Under his direction, Drexel surpassed $100 million in sponsored project expenditures for the first time and contributed significantly to major economic development initiatives. Dr. Stephenson was a member of the board of the University City Science Center. He played a significant role in the development of the University City Keystone Innovation Zone in partnership with the Science Center and the University of Pennsylvania, as well as the establishment of the Nanotechnology Institute, a state-funded university collaboration with Ben Franklin Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Dr. Stephenson's work at Drexel is the capstone of a distinguished academic career that included his service as system-wide vice president for research at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. There, he more than doubled research income in a four-year period. Dr. Stephenson brought that same commitment and dedication to Drexel, where his tireless efforts to broaden our research enterprise and foster collaboration across the University were greatly admired by our students, faculty and staff. We are indebted to Bill for his many accomplishments here. Please join me in wishing him the best.
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Stephenson will be succeeded by Dr. Kenneth Blank who has served as Drexel's senior associate vice provost for research since 2001. In this position, Ken has helped grow Drexel's research enterprise and overseen the initiation of a number of significant research programs, including the National Bioterrorism Civilian Medical Response Center and the Center for Applied Communications and Information Networking
Dr. Blank holds a B.A. in biology from New York University and a Ph.D. in genetics from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is a professor at the Drexel University College of Medicine and previously held faculty appointments at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine and Hahnemann University School of Medicine. From 1994 through 1998 he served as associate dean for research at Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, and from 1998 to 2001 as associate vice president for research and graduate studies at MCP Hahnemann University and Drexel University.
Ken's research focuses on the molecular and cellular basis for host/virus interactions in the development of persistent retrovirus infection and retrovirus-induced leukemogenesis and he has published extensively in this area.
During the short time I have been at Drexel, I have found Dr. Blank to be an energetic, innovative and effective leader. I am confident that he will be able to build on the momentum that we have created during the past several years and enhance our research enterprise even more.