CU Boulder Provost Russell Moore today announced the appointment of Massimo Ruzzene to the position of vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes, effective March 20.
“I am excited to welcome Massimo to his permanent post as vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes,” said Moore. “As an accomplished researcher and scholar, he understands the value and impact of the research, scholarship and creative work conducted by CU Boulder faculty and students, as well as the importance of building and maintaining relationships with our federal and private sector research partners.
“Massimo is the right person at the right time to be leading CU Boulder’s vital research and innovation mission,” said Moore.
Ruzzene, the Slade Professor of Mechanical Engineering, has been serving as acting vice chancellor following the retirement of Terri Fiez in June 2022. Before stepping in as the acting vice chancellor and dean, Ruzzene served as associate dean for research in the College of Engineering and Applied Science.
“I am honored to lead and grow the research and innovation mission at CU Boulder, which is already among the nation’s leading research institutions,” said Ruzzene. “I will continue to work closely with partners on and off campus to ensure that all faculty, staff and students are equipped to succeed in their research, scholarship and creative work; that diversity, equity and inclusion are guiding principles in all we do; and that Colorado and the nation recognize the discovery and impact that emanate from CU Boulder.”
Ruzzene joined CU Boulder in 2019 from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), where he held the Pratt and Whitney Endowed Professorship in Aerospace Engineering. Prior to that, from 2014 to 2016, he held a directorship with the National Science Foundation’s Dynamics, Control and System Diagnostics unit of its Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation Division.
Ruzzene holds a bachelor’s degree and doctorate in mechanical engineering from The Politecnico di Torino in Torino, Italy.
The vice chancellor and dean is the lead research officer of the campus and head administrative and academic officer of the university’s institutes. This position reports to the provost and has the overall responsibility for supporting the research agenda for the University of Colorado Boulder.
