Research vp adds to leadership roles

Dr. Ralph E. Powe assumed his duties during a recent meeting of the Council of Sponsoring Institutions of Oak Ridge Associated Universities. Established in 1946, ORAU is a private, not-for-profit corporation and consortium of 88 doctoral-granting colleges and universities.

Powe

The organization serves government, academia, and the private sector by addressing important national science and technology issues. As an example, ORAU helps faculty and students gain access to federal research facilities. In addition, it organizes research and policy alliances to focus on nationally important issues.

Powe is a Mississippi State graduate who joined the faculty in 1974. He held several major administrative positions, including associate dean of engineering, before being named vice president for research in 1986.

As vice president, he has led in forming the Mississippi Research Consortium among the state's four research universities. He currently heads the state consortium.

In addition, he was named last year to a two-year term as chair of the board of directors of the Coalition of EPSCoR. Created by the National Science Foundation, the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research helps develop research capabilities in states receiving an undersized share of federal research and development funding.

Powe received bachelor's and master's degrees at Mississippi State and a doctorate at Montana State University.