News

New University of Montana VP of Research and Development, Daniel Dwyer, hired from New Mexico State University

Daniel Dwyer, vice provost for research at New Mexico State University and a former Exxon scientist, was chosen to fill a top position at the University of Montana.

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

On Aug. 1, Dwyer officially takes on the duties of UM’s vice president for research and development, a position formerly held by Lloyd Chesnut, who recently left UM for a similar position with the University of North Texas.

While at UM, Dwyer will oversee research, research-related programs, technology developments, federal legislative relations, international programs, environmental health and occupational safety, and animal resources.

Dwyer will earn an annual salary of $135,000, making him the second highest paid employee at UM after President George Dennison, who earns $143,986 a year.

As was Chesnut’s responsibility, Dwyer will be expected to help UM attract private and federal research grants. In his six years at UM, Chesnut was instrumental in helping UM more than double the amount of grant-funded dollars and help land more than $50 million for research.

Dwyer has big shoes to fill, Dennison said during a Friday interview, but Dennison believes Dwyer has the ability and the fortitude to continue building on UM’s funding successes.

"His track record pretty much parallels Lloyd Chesnut’s record here," Dennison said. "What Dan Dwyer brings is the experience and expertise to allow us to stay on track, and I don’t think we’ll miss much of a beat."

Before his position at New Mexico, Dwyer worked as vice president for research at the University of Maine from 1996 to 2000, and helped to significantly grow the school’s research programs, Dennison said.

Dwyer earned a master’s degree in chemistry and a doctorate in physical chemistry from Lehigh University.

He has been a teacher and researcher, specializing in surface science and technology. Dwyer spent 12 years on the Maine faculty after working for a decade as senior staff chemist and group leader of surface chemistry and physics at the Exxon Corporate Research Laboratory in New Jersey.

Dennison made the hiring decision after a UM committee conducted a national search that resulted in campus interviews with five candidates.

Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at [email protected]

http://missoulian.com/articles/2003/06/28/news/local/news02.txt

*********************

NEW MEXICO EDUCATOR HIRED FOR TOP UM RESEARCH POST

A chemist with research administration experience at universities in New Mexico and Maine will take the helm of research at The University of Montana on Aug. 1.

The University of Montana News

Daniel J. Dwyer, currently vice provost for research at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, will become UM’s vice president for research and development. He replaces T. Lloyd Chesnut, who left UM this month to assume a similar position at the University of North Texas in Denton.

In his six years at UM, Chesnut more than doubled the amount of grant-funded research, propelling it beyond the $50 million mark. Dwyer had similar success and much the same duties when he served as vice president for research at the University of Maine during 1996-2000.

Considering Dwyer’s experience and record, UM President George Dennison said he is confident his new appointee can help UM continue the progress made during Chesnut’s tenure. Dennison made the hiring decision after a UM committee conducted a national search that resulted in campus interviews with five candidates.

Dwyer will earn $135,000 a year to oversee research and sponsored programs, technology transfer, information technology, federal legislative relations, international programs, environmental health and occupational safety, and animal resources at UM.

During the past year at New Mexico State and during his tenure at Maine, Dwyer worked with federal, state and private funding sources to identify faculty research opportunities. He continually emphasized the role of higher education and research in economic growth for those states.

"Higher education plays a critical role in the economic development of any state or country," Dennison said. "The University of Montana has accepted the mandate to make a difference, and Dan Dwyer brings to the state the experience and expertise that will keep us on track."

Dwyer earned a master’s in chemistry and a doctorate in physical chemistry from Lehigh University in 1974 and 1976.

He has been both a teacher and researcher, specializing in surface science and technology. Dwyer spent 12 years on the Maine faculty after working for a decade as senior staff chemist and group leader of surface chemistry and physics at Exxon Corporate Research Laboratory in New Jersey.

http://www.umt.edu/urelations/releases/default.asp?section=NewVP

Posted in:

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.