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Aug. 9, 2006

NC State University Names New Dean of Graduate School

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dr. Terri Lomax

Dr. Terri Lomax, a senior policy analyst for NASA and a professor at Oregon State University, has been named dean of the Graduate School at North Carolina State University, effective Oct. 1.

Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies John Gilligan announced the appointment, saying, “Professor Lomax has unique strengths in both the research and graduate education arenas, including supporting new interdisciplinary programs that are so important today.”

Provost Larry Nielsen added, “Dr. Lomax brings a wealth of experience as a graduate advisor and researcher and as a research director with NASA. She has lots of ideas and great enthusiasm for the position. I am confident that her vision, experience and energy will spark our graduate programs to new levels of achievement.”

As dean, Lomax will provide leadership for a graduate program serving more than 7,000 full- and part-time students, including about 1,400 international students. NC State’s graduate program offers master’s degrees in 110 fields and doctoral degrees in 61 fields.

In addition to serving as dean, Lomax will also hold the positions of associate vice chancellor for research and graduate studies and professor in NC State’s Department of Plant Biology.

“NC State has outstanding graduate programs that are well positioned to provide the future leaders in many fields for North Carolina and the nation,” Lomax said. “The numbers of programs and students at the Graduate School are growing, and federal grant funding also is up. Those factors indicate a well-run organization that values excellence. I’m excited and honored by the opportunity to lead NC State’s Graduate School.” 

For the past three years, Lomax has served in NASA’s Washington, D.C.-based headquarters, first as division director of the $160 million Fundamental Space Biology program, then as acting deputy associate administrator for research for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, developing policy and direction for its $1.8 billion research and technology program. Lomax has provided analytical decision-making support, policy recommendations and advice to senior management on many aspects of NASA programs, with special emphasis on scientific research and education.

At the same time, Lomax remained a member of the Oregon State faculty, where she began work in 1987. In addition to her duties as professor, she most recently served as director of the university’s Program for the Analysis of Biotechnology Issues.

Among her many honors and accomplishments, Lomax has been named a Fulbright Fellow, Carnegie Fellow, National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow and Monsanto Research Fellow. She was selected as an Aldo Leopold Leadership Program Fellow and received intensive training in communicating complex issues to the media, policy makers, business leaders, and the public. In 2004, she was presented with the Founder’s Award of the American Society of Gravitational and Space Biology. A recipient of several faculty awards at Oregon State, she was named the Mortar Board “Top Prof” in 2002.

She has published more than 60 articles, including several in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and in Science. She has also given more than 100 invited presentations that include session organizer roles and plenary lectures at several national and international conferences.

A noted researcher in the areas of space biology and plant sensory genomics, Lomax has received grant and contract support totaling over $8 million for her work on 23 projects from the National Science Foundation, USDA, and NASA, among others.

Lomax earned a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of Washington in 1975. She earned a master’s degree in botany/biology from San Diego State University in 1978 and a doctorate in biological sciences from Stanford University in 1983.  

Lomax will succeed Dr. Robert Sowell, who retired in July after 36 years of service to the university. Dr. Duane Larick, associate dean of the Graduate School, will serve as interim dean through Sept. 30.