Nairn joins UCD as Vice Chancellor/Vice Provost
The University of Colorado Denver welcomes Roderick Nairn, PhD, as vice chancellor of university initiatives and vice provost. Nairn comes to UCD from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center where he served as executive vice president for academic affairs, dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and professor of microbiology & immunology. His responsibilities at UCD are equally as diverse and challenging, including the formation of a strategic plan task force.
“The most immediate priority is to get the mission/vision/values task force assembled to work on one of the first steps for the overall university planning and accreditation committee that is being formed,” Nairn explains. Solicitations are being accepted from all areas of the campus community and nominees will be asked to join the task force sometime in the near future.
Among Nairn’s many other responsibilities are:
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Coordinating leadership efforts to implement and optimize consolidation
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Oversee and coordinate institutional and facilities planning efforts for the university, including the move of health sciences academic and research programs to the new Anschutz Medical Campus
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Work with the two graduate schools on a proposed consolidation plan
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Liaison for the planning of the Colorado School of Public Health
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Serve on the leadership team for the 2010-11 NCA accreditation review.
“I feel very privileged to be a part of this prestigious institution,” Nairn says. “I look forward to the challenge of the consolidation process and working with the leadership team Chancellor Wilson is putting together to move UCD forward on a number of fronts.”
In addition to his administrative duties, Nairn will be teaching for the departments of Biology and Immunology. He obtained his PhD in biochemistry from the University of London and the Medical Research Council, National Institute for Medical Research, London, England.
After post-doctoral training in Immunology/Immunogenetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, Nairn joined the faculty of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Mich. While at the University of Michigan, Nairn established a research program in basic cell and molecular immunology, developed a continuing interest in medical and graduate education, and was Director of the Medical Scientist (MD/PhD) Training Program.
Nairn was professor and chair, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at Creighton University School of Medicine from 1995 through 2003, was Interim Dean, School of Medicine from 1997 to 1998, and then became Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, with responsibility for oversight of research, faculty affairs and development, medical education, student affairs and admissions, graduate medical education and continuing medical education.
He has published widely in several basic science areas, been a reviewer for various scientific journals and funding agencies, and co-authored a textbook for medical students. He was at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center from Jan. 1, 2004, to March 2007, where he was responsible for oversight of the academic and research missions, all university institutes, institutional planning and effectiveness, institutional compliance, the health sciences center libraries, and student support services and operations.
“I look forward to working with and being accessible to the administration, faculty, staff and students, along with hiking in the mountains once the snow melts!” he says.