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ATLANTA—Dr. Timothy Denning, vice president for research and economic development and a Distinguished University Professor, is stepping down effective Oct. 31 to become the new president and CEO of the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA). He will begin his new role at the helm of the GRA Nov. 1.
Denning, who became vice president for research and economic development in 2020, has led the university’s research community to historic growth and new funding records for the past three years. In fiscal year 2023, university faculty earned $224.72 million in research funding, the highest total in university history. Twenty faculty members were awarded $1 million or more.
Georgia State is the No. 5 fastest-growing research institution in the U.S., according to the Higher Education Research and Development Survey, 2023. The university now has more than 70 research centers, including five university-level enterprises that address critical quality-of-life issues such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, brain health and infectious disease.
“Tim has been so crucial and instrumental to the growth of our research enterprise, and he has been an incredible partner to me and the entire university community,” said Georgia State President M. Brian Blake. “His leadership has been vital for the exceptional research efforts taking place here.”
Denning’s leadership at Georgia State reflects a breadth and depth of activity that accelerated an already-growing research enterprise. He spearheaded several initiatives to promote interdisciplinary research, innovation and scholarship and cultivated partners in academia, industry and the scientific community. He was also key to bringing top researchers to the university and developed programs to provide students with research experience in the private sector.
Denning is a Distinguished University Professor in the university’s Institute for Biomedical Sciences (IBMS), where he was previously associate director and director of academic programs.
He has been an important contributor to the development and growth of IBMS, one of the university’s most productive research units. During his tenure, IBMS has doubled its sponsored research funding. As director of academic programs, Denning has been the catalyst for expanded degree programs for students at all academic levels.
He has served in numerous leadership roles at Georgia State including as chair of the Institutional Biosafety Committee and vice chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Additionally, he spearheaded the development of a new Ph.D. program in Translational Biomedical Sciences, a Master of Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Biomedical Enterprise and a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Biomedical Science and Enterprise.