Steven Liss, Vice-Principal (Research) today announced the appointment of three senior leaders within the research portfolio.

Cynthia Fekken and Yolande Chan have both been named associate vice-principals (research) and Karina McInnis has been named the executive director of University Research Services.

“I am delighted that we are drawing on the expertise and talent within the Queen’s community to advance our research program,” says Dr. Liss. “These three individuals will each contribute significantly as the structure and role of the research portfolio evolves to better meet the needs of the university and its researchers.”

Dr. Fekken, who has served as associate vice-principal (research) on an interim basis since November, 2012, has accepted the position for a five-year term. She has been a professor of psychology at Queen’s since 1983 and an active researcher in the areas of personality theory and psychological assessment. She previously served as an associate dean in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Dr. Fekken will take on responsibility for the implementation of the university’s strategic research plan and for integrating strategy and operations within the research portfolio.

Dr. Chan has been named associate vice-principal (research) for a three-year term, with responsibility for advancing the social sciences and humanities research priorities that emerged from the strategic research plan. She will also provide leadership around Queen’s research centres and will design the Institute for Advanced Research recommended by the strategic research plan. Dr. Chan is an E. Marie Shantz Professor of management information systems in the Queen’s School of Business who previously served as director of the Monieson Centre. Her research interests include digital technology strategy, knowledge management and innovation.

Karina McInnis has been named executive director, University Research Services, after serving on an interim basis in that position since December, 2011. Ms. McInnis joined the research services team at Queen’s in 2000 as a program coordinator with the Queen’s University Infrastructure Programs (eQUIP) Task Force. She moved progressively to more responsible positions and was named associate director of the Office of Research Services in 2008. She is a professional engineer and holds a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University.

These appointments follow a comprehensive review of the research portfolio, designed to help align its services with the university’s new budget model and to implement the senate-approved strategic research plan.

The new University Research Services unit will be created out of an amalgamation of the current Office of Research Services and the eQUIP Task Force. The restructuring will enable the university to better serve its researchers and continue to support research excellence at Queen’s. Details of the restructured services will be announced on the website of the Office of the Vice-Principal (Research) in the coming weeks.