OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. announced Vice President for Research and Partnerships Tomás Díaz de la Rubia will be leaving OU for a position at the University of Arizona on Nov. 8.
In a mass email sent to the OU community on Tuesday, Díaz de la Rubia will become the University of Arizona’s senior vice president of Research, Innovation and Impact.
As vice president for research and partnerships, Díaz de la Rubia led OU’s research enterprise and developed strategy specifically in national security, energy, sustainability and life sciences.
Before coming to OU in 2019, Díaz de la Rubia was chief scientific officer and senior vice president for strategic initiatives at Purdue University.
According to his OU biography, Díaz de la Rubia was a part of the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship and Purdue Innovates, previously known as Purdue Foundry, which helped launch new startup companies. Before Purdue, Díaz de la Rubia worked for Deloitte Consulting LLP where he was the innovation leader and a director in the energy and resources industry practice.
Díaz de la Rubia is also a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Intelligence Community Studies Board. He is a board member of the National Defense Industrial Association and of Civilian Research and Development Foundation Global.
“Although it will be difficult to see him go, Tomás’ leadership has undoubtedly strengthened the University of Oklahoma, leaving us in a better position than ever before,” Harroz wrote in the email.
According to Harroz, Díaz de la Rubia was instrumental in helping OU develop its “Lead On, University” strategic plan and was pivotal to the growth of OU’s research enterprise.
“With Tomás spearheading our research strategy, we have fully embraced our role as Oklahoma’s leading research engine and accelerated our trajectory as a world-changing leader in innovation and collaboration,” Harroz wrote.
According to Harroz, OU will begin its search to replace Díaz de la Rubia immediately. Carol Silva, senior associate vice president for research and partnerships,will serve as interim vice president pending approval by the OU Board of Regents.
Before taking up her current position, Silva co-directed the Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis. She directed the Center for Risk and Crisis Management and previously served as the director of the Center for Faculty Excellence in 2019.
“As Senior Associate Vice President for Research and Partnerships, Carol has worked closely alongside Tomás as the office’s principal deputy, playing a pivotal role in driving excellence in research and creative activities across the Norman campus,” Harroz wrote.
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Ana Barboza and Peggy Dodd. Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
