As announced in April 2019, the Office of Graduate Studies and Research will be restructured into two separate areas of responsibility. I’m pleased to inform you that Professor Sarah Irvine Belson has agreed to lead the Office of Research in an interim capacity beginning June 17. This office will be critically important to the implementation of our strategic plan as it supports the faculty in building the influence and impact of AU’s scholarship and oversees the functions of sponsored programs, research compliance, and university-wide centers and institutes.

Dr. Irvine Belson joined American University in 1995. She currently serves as a professor in the School of Education, executive director of the Institute for Innovation in Education, director of AU’s special education programs, and faculty fellow in the Center for Teaching, Research & Learning. Her research explores educational opportunity for children with disabilities and teacher education policy. She is the author of Integrating Technology into Special Education (2003), as well as over 50 research papers and chapters on practice and policy in special education and education reform. Her experience as a K12 special educator and her focus on interventions that can increase educational outcomes for children with disabilities is a cornerstone of her research and teaching.

She is uniquely qualified for this position by virtue of her own research experience and success in securing grants. She has collaborated with colleagues across departments at American University and successfully attracted significant external funding from the National Science Foundation, Toyota Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent for Education, among other partners. She has secured $48 million in total revenue from grants and contracts, including $21 million from externally funded grants.

She also served as the dean of the School of Education, Teaching & Health from 2002–2015 and holds a PhD in curriculum and instruction with a cognate in special education from Arizona State University. Please join me in welcoming Sarah to this important role.