With an impressive career spanning academia and federal government service, Arthur Lupia has been selected as the University of Michigan’s new vice president for research and innovation, starting August 1. This appointment promises to bring a wealth of experience and leadership to the university’s research endeavors across its campuses in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint.
Since April 2024, Lupia has served as the interim vice president following Rebecca Cunningham’s departure to preside over the University of Minnesota. His leadership will now be formalized at the upcoming Board of Regents meeting on September 19, set to take place on the Ann Arbor campus.
President Domenico Grasso expressed his confidence in Lupia’s capabilities, stating, “Over the past 15 months, Dr. Lupia’s leadership has guided world-class research at the University of Michigan through unprecedented challenges to higher education.” Grasso further emphasized the potential impact of Lupia’s leadership in driving research discoveries that strengthen both the economy and quality of life locally and globally.
The national search to fill this key role, chaired by Stephen Forrest, involved rigorous selection processes supported by Park Square Executive Search. Lupia’s proven track record in research leadership and innovation made him a standout candidate for this prestigious position.
Lupia remarked on the dedication of U-M’s research community, “Every day, thousands of U-M researchers tackle complex challenges in human health, create incredible advances in vital technologies, and produce discoveries that improve quality of life for people all over our state and across the nation.” He expressed gratitude for the chance to continue contributing to U-M’s research legacy.
Lupia’s association with the University of Michigan began in 2001, when he joined as a professor in political science and a research professor at the Institute for Social Research’s Center for Political Studies. He has held numerous esteemed positions there, including the Hal R. Varian Collegiate Professor of Political Science and the Gerald R. Ford Distinguished University Professor of Political Science.
His contributions extend beyond academia; from 2018 to 2022, Lupia played a pivotal role at the National Science Foundation as an assistant director, focusing on enhancing the public value of its research initiatives. Additionally, he co-chaired the White House’s Subcommittee on Open Science, working to make federally funded research more accessible.
Lupia’s esteemed academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Rochester, and both a Master of Science and Ph.D. in social science from the California Institute of Technology. He has also been recognized with U-M’s President’s Award for Public Impact.
Through his prior role at U-M’s Office of the Vice President for Research, Lupia launched the Bold Challenges initiative, designed to foster large-scale interdisciplinary research collaborations. His future endeavors at U-M are set to continue elevating the university’s stature in research excellence and innovation.
