Todd Joins Group Studying U.S. Research Universities

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 12, 2010) - University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. has been appointed to the prestigious National Academies' Committee on Research Universities. The committee is charged with conducting a vast study of public and private research universities in the United States and will examine the current financial, organizational and intellectual capacity of research universities relative to such institutions internationally. Additionally, the committee will determine what is needed to maintain excellence in education and ensure America's ability to address major issues facing society in the 21st century.

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators and representatives expressed concern that America's research universities could be at risk and asked The National Academies to conduct the study. The National Academies, comprised of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council, unite the best minds in science and technology to address critical national issues and advise the federal government and the public.

The National Academies also produced the piece titled "Rising Above the Gathering Storm," a landmark document that examined the landscape and future of higher education. Many of that report's recommendations were included in the "America COMPETES Act" that became law in 2007 establishing a plan for keeping America globally competitive in the areas of science and technology.

"Lee Todd will make excellent contributions to the National Research Council’s Committee on Research Universities," said Peter McPherson, president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. "He has been an outstanding president of the University of Kentucky, and he brings the perspective of a strong Middle America university to this committee. Moreover, his work as both a professor and entrepreneur is special and perhaps unique to the committee, and it will add force to his voice in the committee's deliberations."

Todd joins a distinguished group of higher education experts on the committee, which is chaired by Chad Holliday, chairman of Bank of America and former CEO and chairman of DuPont.

“It is a distinct honor to be named to such an august body,” said President Todd. “I have long admired the work of the National Academies, and I look forward to working on a project that I feel is of utmost importance to the future of my native state, our nation, and the world. Research universities have helped shape this nation and the world for generations, and if the United States intends on remaining the global leader in innovation, creativity, and inspiration, our research universities must lead the way. I look forward to getting started as we tackle some important – and timely – issues.”

Todd's term on the Committee on Research Universities continues through Sept. 30, 2011.

In requesting the study of America's research universities, U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Lamar Alexander and U.S. Representatives Ralph Hall and Bart Gordon posed the following question: "What are the top ten actions that Congress, state governments, research universities, and others could take to assure the ability of the American research university to maintain the excellence in research and doctoral education needed to help the United States compete, prosper, and achieve national goals for health, energy, the environment, and security in the global community of the 21st century?"

In addition to President Todd and Chairman Holliday, the individuals on the Committee on Research Universities include the following:

- Peter C. Agre, professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute

- Enriqueta C. Bond, former president, Burroughs Welcome Fund

- C. W. Chu, Temple Chair of Science and professor of physics, University of Houston

- Francisco G. Cigarroa, chancellor, University of Texas system

- James Duderstadt, president emeritus and professor of science and engineering, University of Michigan

- Ronald G. Ehrenberg, Irving M. Ives Professor of Industrial and Labor Relations and Economics, Cornell University

- Bill Frist, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader and current University Distinguished Professor of Health Care, Vanderbilt University

- William D. Green, chairman and CEO, Accenture

- John L. Hennessy, president, Stanford University

- Walter E. Massey, former president, Morehouse College

- Burton J. McMurtry, Technology Venture Investors

- Ernest J. Moniz, Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

- Heather Munroe-Blum, principal, vice-chancellor, and senior officer, McGill University

- Cherry A. Murray, Dean, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University

- Hunter Rawlings, former president, Cornell University

- John S. Reed, former chairman and CEO of Citicorp and Citibank

- Teresa A. Sullivan, president, University of Virginia (effective Aug. 1, 2010), and current provost and executive vice president, University of Michigan

- Sidney Taurel, chairman emeritus, Eli Lilly and Company

- Laura D'Andrea Tyson, S.K. and Angela Chan Professor of Global Management, Hans School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, and former national economic adviser to President Bill Clinton

- Padmasree Warrior, chief technology officer, Cisco Systems