Appointment of Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

July 11, 2003

Members of the Rutgers Community:

It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I share with you the news that Dr. Philip Furmanski, one of the nation’s leading researchers in cancer cell biology and an accomplished administrator, has been appointed executive vice president for academic affairs, effective September 1.

I am delighted that Phil has chosen to join our university. He has the perfect combination of ability, experience, scholarship, insight and energy to help lead Rutgers to the top-tier of the nation’s research universities. He shares the core values that I have articulated to guide my administration, as well as my commitment to strengthening the education we offer to our students, conducting innovative research that contributes to the state’s global economic competitiveness, and serving the people of New Jersey.

I extend my appreciation and gratitude to search committee chair David Mechanic and his fellow committee members for their outstanding work. In Phil they found the right person — someone who will be an excellent academic leader for Rutgers.

Phil will be a member of my cabinet and will serve as acting president in my absence. He will be a tenured professor in the department of cell biology and neuroscience in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences–New Brunswick. He will also hold an appointment as a professor in the department of molecular genetics, microbiology and immunology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey upon approval of the faculty and dean of that school.

Phil comes to Rutgers from New York University, where he is currently chair of the department of biology, a position he has held since 1990, and a professor of pathology at New York University School of Medicine. He served as dean of NYU’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences from 1995 to 1998.

As I have outlined in earlier communications to the university community, the executive vice president for academic affairs will be the university’s chief academic and budget officer. In close consultation with me, Phil will be responsible for setting university priorities and enhancing Rutgers’ academic quality. He will have direct oversight of undergraduate and graduate education, research, university budgeting, land grant programs, libraries, enrollment management, financial aid, student affairs, institutional research, continuing education, and all schools, faculties, centers and institutes on the New Brunswick/Piscataway campus.

A critical aspect of Phil’s new role will be to promote research and instructional collaborations within Rutgers as well as with nonprofit and private organizations. Working with faculty, students, staff and other university stakeholders, Phil will also define emerging instructional, research and outreach opportunities, develop new initiatives, and oversee performance and accountability of individual teaching, research and outreach programs.

Rutgers can become one of the top-tier public research universities in the nation. I am convinced that Phil’s leadership as executive vice president for academic affairs will help us reach that goal. Please join me in welcoming Phil Furmanski to Rutgers.

Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey