McCrary named University of Tennessee vice chancellor for research

The University of Tennessee filled its top research position Monday with the naming of Victor McCrary as the new vice chancellor for research. 

McCrary is currently vice president for research and economic development at Morgan State University in Baltimore and holds a seat on the National Science Board.

He is scheduled to start at UT March 5 and will earn a salary of $360,000. 

"UT is really at a progressive state in its evolution and it's got some great energetic leadership in Chancellor (Beverly) Davenport and the people on her team," said McCrary, 62. "Knoxville is an emerging center of innovation. It's got a national lab right in its backyard that I think is a leader not only nationally but internationally."

McCrary was chosen from among four finalists for the job, including one in-house candidate, to fill the position in Davenport's cabinet. 

Monday's announcement means Davenport is closer to having her leadership team in place as she approaches her one-year mark at UT.

Since taking office last February, she has now filled four of six open cabinet positions. 

What does a vice chancellor for research do?

The job of vice chancellor for research entails promoting research and economic development and acting as a liaison between the university and Oak Ridge National Laboratories and other research and development institutions in the region and state.

“Victor has a distinguished record as a researcher and a university administrator,” Davenport said in a news release. “At Morgan State, they call him an agent of change for developing a comprehensive research strategy for the university and fostering cross-disciplinary work. We welcome his expertise in advancing our research enterprise and guiding the implementation of our cluster hire and grand challenge initiatives.” 

Before joining Morgan State, a historically black university, McCrary held research administrative positions at Johns Hopkins University, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and AT&T Bell Laboratories.

He has a doctorate in physical chemistry from Howard University, an executive master’s degree in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Catholic University of America.

Research on e-books and a trip to Antarctica

Before becoming an administrator, McCrary said his own research included work on advanced telecommunications and digital storage. 

In 1998, he organized the world's first conference on electronic books. His research group also developed a prototype of the e-book reader, and a low-cost Braille reader for e-books. 

The work helped set development standards for today's Kindle and iPad readers and the e-book industry, according to Morgan State's website.

In 2016, he was appointed to the National Science Board, a 25-member board that sets national policies and advises the president and Congress on science and engineering. 

He recently traveled to Antarctica with the board to review and evaluate the facilities and research on the continent.

Building bridges in Knoxville

At UT, McCrary said he is looking forward to partnering with ORNL as well as working on economic development in Knoxville and creating STEM jobs across a spectrum of educational levels. 

"I'm looking forward to meeting with all of the deans as well as continuing to forge our relationships within the UT system," he said. "I think there are challenges that society faces that are interdisciplinary where bridges we can build between different units will be important." 

McCrary fills a position vacated by Taylor Eighmy, who in August left to become president of the University of Texas at San Antonio. 

The other finalists for the job were Lynne Parker, associate dean for faculty affairs and engagement at UT's Tickle College of Engineering; Mark Johnson, director in the Advanced Manufacturing Office at the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C.; and Grace Bochenek, lab director for the National Energy Technology Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy in Pittsburgh.