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February 20 , 2006
Liebeskind new director of science strategies

BY Holly Korschun

Emory has appointed Lanny Liebeskind, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Chemistry and former senior associate dean for research in Emory College, to a newly created position as director of University science strategies. The position was developed, in part, to help implement the strategic plan’s science and technology goals.

“As director of University science strategies, I intend to be a positive change agent for the sciences throughout Emory and work toward effective implementation of the strategic plan initiatives,” Liebeskind said. “This is an exciting time at Emory, and one in which science and technology will play a central role in advancing our mission.”

Liebeskind’s goals in the new position will include helping Emory grow in alignment with its strategic priorities; achieving higher standards of excellence in research and teaching and higher national rankings of science departments; recruiting top-tier faculty and students; creating greater opportunities for interdisciplinary research; and increasing understanding, interaction and shared purpose among the health sciences and the arts and sciences at Emory.

In his new position, Liebeskind will report jointly to: Michael Johns, executive vice president for health affairs; Earl Lewis, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs; and Mike Mandl, executive vice president for finance and administration. Liebeskind also will collaborate with the offices of research administration and strategic planning, and he will continue to serve as the primary liaison with the Georgia Research Alliance on behalf of President Jim Wagner.

“Dr. Liebeskind will serve as a catalyst for integrating the tremendous scientific resources and intellectual capacity available throughout Emory and helping advance our research mission,” Johns said. “By focusing our priorities and coordinating our goals, we can expect to accomplish a great deal more than if our efforts were fragmented.”

Emory’s strategic plan includes three major cross-cutting initiatives in science and technology in which Emory can provide national and international leadership: Neuroscience, Human Nature and Society; Predictive Health and Society; and Computational and Life Sciences.

In pursuing those initiatives, the University plans to develop a comprehensive clinical and translational neuroscience center that will integrate translational research, clinical care and education. Emory, in conjunction with Georgia Tech, has launched a comprehensive predictive health program combining the two institutions’ expertise in nanobiology, imaging and genetics/metabolomics.

The computational and life sciences initiative is geared toward establishing a community that integrates traditional science disciplines in new ways while spearheading innovative methodologies that combine computational and synthetic approaches to science and technology. The initiative will promote three breakthrough concentrations: computational science and informatics; synthetic sciences; and systems biology.

Before beginning his senior associate deanship in Emory College in 2000, Liebeskind chaired the Department of Chemistry from 1996–2000. He came to Emory in 1985 and was named Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor three years later. Liebeskind received his bachelor’s degree from SUNY–Buffalo in 1972 and his Ph.D. from the University of Rochester in 1976.

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