Dear Colleagues:

I am writing to let you know that Malinda Orlin has announced her retirement as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School effective July 1, 2011, after 10 years in the position. Dr. Orlin has provided exceptional leadership over the last decade, and she will be greatly missed.

A national search will soon commence for a Vice President for Academic Affairs — Chief Academic and Research Officer (CARO). The CARO, working collaboratively with the deans and vice presidents, will be the focal point for academic matters — research, education and service. The CARO also provides leadership for and direction to four important university units — the Graduate School, Health Sciences and Human Services Library, Campus Life Services and Academic Services.

A new addition to the Chief Academic and Research Officer's portfolio will be responsibility for facilitating the research mission of the University. This will be accomplished by working closely with the deans, the research leadership of the schools and other individuals to enable the research agenda for the University, ensuring that the proper organizational support is in place to foster successful and collaborative research program development.

The search committee, which is being formed now, will be chaired by Natalie Eddington, PhD, dean of the School of Pharmacy, and Jim Hughes, MBA, vice president for Research and Development.

Additionally, I am pleased to announce that Mr. Hughes will assume the revised role of Vice President and Chief Technology and Enterprise Development Officer, effective July 1, 2011. In this role, Mr. Hughes will continue to be responsible for the pre-award process in research administration, technology transfer, clinical trials management, and liaison to the Biopark. In his new role, Mr. Hughes will focus on enterprise development for the University, with an emphasis on entrepreneurial and economic development in the state and beyond. He will be the University's direct liaison to private industry and Baltimore City.

Mr. Hughes has been at the University of Maryland for 10 years, during which grants and contracts have increased by 178 percent to $567 million, and the number of active technology license agreements has more than quadrupled to 160. I am very pleased that Mr. Hughes has assumed this expanded role, where I am confident he will advance the University's mission.
Please join me in wishing Dr. Orlin well in her retirement and congratulating Mr. Hughes on his new position.

Sincerely yours,

Jay A. Perman, MD
President