Rick Tankersley, Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies
Richard (Rick) Tankersley joined Portland State as the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies in August 2023. He oversees PSU's comprehensive research enterprise and its array of graduate degree and certificate programs. Leveraging his deep expertise from nearly three decades in academia and research, Rick spearheads efforts to enhance research excellence and foster a vibrant culture of innovation through strategic planning and initiatives that advance the university's research mission.
Collaborating closely with President Ann Cudd and other senior leaders, Rick is committed to enhancing existing research and graduate programs and forging new strategic partnerships and collaborations that improve student training and advance the societal impact of research outcomes. His vision positions PSU as a pivotal contributor to the city, state, and nation’s scientific, economic, and cultural development. As PSU’s chief research officer, he oversees the units responsible for strategic research development and partnerships, research infrastructure, proposal and award administration, regulatory compliance, research protections and security, innovation and commercialization, and several of PSU’s interdisciplinary research centers and institutes. In this role, he also fosters a supportive environment that encourages innovation and creativity among students and faculty, working to drive forward PSU's mission of research excellence through interdisciplinary collaborations.
Before his tenure at PSU, Rick was Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development at UNC Charlotte, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the university's research capacity, achieving record increases in research funding and productivity. At UNC Charlotte, he also served as associate dean for research and graduate education in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where he earned a reputation for developing creative and collaborative initiatives that resulted in significant gains in key student success metrics. He also spent four years as a Program Director in the Division of Graduate Education at the National Science Foundation (NSF), where he led several interdisciplinary, cross-Foundation programs, including the NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program, the Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) program, the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program, and the Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW) program.
Rick’s research interests include marine invertebrate behavior and physiology, larval ecology, global change biology, ocean acidification, and science communication. He has been a faculty member and researcher for over 30 years, holding positions at Gonzaga University, the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), and the Florida Institute of Technology. As an advocate and ambassador for STEM education and effective science communication, he directed the Integrated Science Teaching Enhancement Partnership (InSTEP) and served as a PI for Florida’s Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE Florida).
Rick holds a Ph.D. in biology from Wake Forest University, an MS in biological science from Florida State University, and a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University. Leveraging decades of experience and a commitment to excellence, Rick provides visionary leadership at PSU, steering the university towards a future of research distinction and innovative education.