McDowell guided Miami research to funding records, safety improvements
VP of Research and Innovation to retire June 30; Rick Page assumes interim position
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Published
Susan McDowell has been Miami University's vice president for the Office of Research and Innovation since 2022. She will be retiring from the position on June 30. Rick Page assumes the role of interim vice president on July 1.
McDowell guided Miami research to funding records, safety improvements
VP of Research and Innovation to retire June 30; Rick Page assumes interim position
•
Published
During Susan McDowell’s time as vice president for the Office of Research and Innovation, Miami University modernized lab and studio safety, strengthened scholarship, and set new records for external funding.
Continuing McDowell’s positive contributions is one goal Rick Page has in mind when he assumes the role of interim vice president on July 1. McDowell is retiring from her position as of June 30.
Page, currently associate vice president for Research and Innovation, praised McDowell for the deep level of collaboration during her tenure.
“It’s been absolutely wonderful. I’ve learned a ton,” Page said. “It’s been a really amazing partnership.”
McDowell joined Miami in 2022. She previously served as vice provost for Research at Ball State University and was a faculty member in the Department of Biology.
As new technologies evolved, so did safety requirements for lab and studio work. McDowell said the university was very supportive of her office’s safety initiatives.
“We wanted to make sure we were putting into place what best supports our students, faculty, and staff,” McDowell said. “I’m really proud of what we stood up here. It became an even safer place for our students to work in.”
In 2024, Miami set its external funding record for the fiscal year with more than $50.9 million in grants and contracts. That was an increase of more than 33% from the previous record, set a year prior.
“I’ve really enjoyed the level of scholarship and research, the importance of the work going on here,” McDowell said. “I’m really proud of the team we’ve been able to create. We’ve put into place an infrastructure to strengthen and modernize what was in place so the researchers can do their work and we take care of the paperwork and administrative burden. The people on our team don’t just clock in and clock out. They are committed to Miami and committed to our students.”
Continuing McDowell’s positive contributions is one goal Rick Page has in mind when he assumes the role of interim vice president on July 1. McDowell is retiring from her position as of June 30.
Page, currently associate vice president for Research and Innovation, praised McDowell for the deep level of collaboration during her tenure.
“It’s been absolutely wonderful. I’ve learned a ton,” Page said. “It’s been a really amazing partnership.”
McDowell joined Miami in 2022. She previously served as vice provost for Research at Ball State University and was a faculty member in the Department of Biology.
As new technologies evolved, so did safety requirements for lab and studio work. McDowell said the university was very supportive of her office’s safety initiatives.
“We wanted to make sure we were putting into place what best supports our students, faculty, and staff,” McDowell said. “I’m really proud of what we stood up here. It became an even safer place for our students to work in.”
In 2024, Miami set its external funding record for the fiscal year with more than $50.9 million in grants and contracts. That was an increase of more than 33% from the previous record, set a year prior.
“I’ve really enjoyed the level of scholarship and research, the importance of the work going on here,” McDowell said. “I’m really proud of the team we’ve been able to create. We’ve put into place an infrastructure to strengthen and modernize what was in place so the researchers can do their work and we take care of the paperwork and administrative burden. The people on our team don’t just clock in and clock out. They are committed to Miami and committed to our students.”
Rick Page will become interim vice president for the Office of Research and Innovation on July 1.
Keeping active in research has been vital for Page. “It’s a good way to make sure we’re meeting compliance obligations and doing what we can to push forward and advance research in a way that is meaningful and helpful to researchers,” he said.
Page joined the university in 2013. He earned his bachelor degree in Biochemistry from California Polytechnic State University and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Florida State University. Page also served as an American Heart Association postdoctoral fellow for Cleveland Clinic.
He is also a fellow of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities Research Leader Fellowship program. The group meets often and offers helpful insight.
“I was very fortunate. I had great mentors,” Page said. “I had wonderful and supportive research environments. A lot of people did not have the same sort of situations. I want to do what I can to work with them and help them.
“I’m really looking to help Miami keep the strong trajectory of growth in research. We have a huge range in terms of the diversity of research that goes on in different departments. It has been incredible seeing the breadth of it and the quality that goes on across campus.”
McDowell said Miami will be served well with Page in the role.
“Miami is really fortunate to have Rick,” she said. “He knew years ago that he wanted to come into this kind of leadership position. He started taking very specific actions to get more and more trained in this administrative role. He’s known to be successful, not just talking the talk but walking the walk. He’s generous with his time, knowledge, and expertise, and he loves to serve. Miami is going to be in very good hands.”
Established in 1809, Miami University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg. Interested in learning more about the Office of Research and Innovation? Visit the website for more information.