Dr. Kenneth Blank has been named vice provost for research, announced Provost Stephen W. Director. Blank succeeds Dr. Bill Stephenson, who stepped down to go on full-time medical disability.

Blank has been Drexel’s senior associate vice provost for research since 2001. In this position, he helped grow Drexel’s research enterprise and oversaw 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.

Stephenson joined Drexel in 2003. Under his direction the University surpassed $100 million in sponsored project expenditures for the first time and contributed significantly to major economic development initiatives. He played a significant role in the development of the University City Keystone Innovation Zone in partnership with the University City 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