Academic Administration Positions
Founding DIRECTOR, Calhoun Honors Discovery Program (March 2018, current)
To Discovery program students combine disciplinary coursework with interconnected learning of concepts from multiple collaborating disciplines, and apply these integrated concepts to transdisciplinary, hands-on learning experiences that engage partners in industry and other professional sectors. The program has a modular and adaptive curriculum that is supported by an innovative distributed learning and collaboration platform. The integrative theme of the curriculum is “collaborative technology innovation for societal impact”. Nine degree programs with complimentary approaches to the theme are participating in the program: Business Information Technology, Business Management, Computational Modeling and Data Analytics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial Design, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Communication, Policy & Planning, Creative Technologies. The program provides full scholarships and attracts a diverse student body. The program is supported by a $20,000,000 gift by David Calhoun, senior managing director of Blackstone, as well as significant gifts from industry. (https://honorscollege.vt.edu/cdp.html)
Director, Calhoun Center for Higher Education Innovation (March 2018, current)
The Calhoun Center for Higher Education Innovation aims to facilitate a national conversation on adaptive, transdisciplinary life-long learning and the diverse and inclusive partnerships and platforms that can facilitate this type of learning for the twenty-first century. The Calhoun Center is connecting this conversation to the iterative planning of the Discovery program.(https://honorscollege.vt.edu/cdp/center.html )
Executive Vice President and Provost, Virginia Tech, (August 2015-October 2017)
As the chief academic officer at Virginia Tech, the Provost is responsible for the university's instructional, research, and outreach programs, the graduate school, the libraries, student affairs, faculty affairs, academic support, institutional effectiveness, academic assessment, and has senior management and leadership responsibilities for the colleges and academic administrative units. The Provost is directly involved (in partnership with the President and the Chief Financial Officer) in developing the budget, allocating and managing resources, and developing university policies. The Provost also serves as a liaison with the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia.
In addition to the above management duties, Provost Rikakis o led a number of new initiatives that are resulting in significant gains for the University (https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2019/09/provost-the-rankings-2019.html):
Co-chair of the Beyond Boundaries Visioning exercise and report for the future of the University (http://www.beyondboundaries.vt.edu/). The visioning process established five key aspirations: large scale communities of discovery, three-dimensional integrated education (disciplinary, transdisciplinary and applied) also tagged as VT shaped learning, diversification of resources and development of external partnerships, a diverse and inclusive campus, focus on societal impact and advancing the human condition.
Led the development of Destination Areas; transdisciplinary, multifunction (research, education, engagement) communities of discovery. These communities build on University differentiating strengths and help the University and region become a global destination for talent. Developed an innovative funding model that places resources and incentives in disciplinary units to allow them to engage in destination areas transdisciplinary activity. Destination areas themes can thus evolve over time without requiring the creation of new or sun-setting of old academic structures. Destination areas related facilities, cluster hiring, curriculum, industry partnerships and research programs have been implemented and are evolving and growing (https://provost.vt.edu/destination-areas.html).
Led the development of a new resource model for the University; the Partnership for an Incentive Based Budget (PIBB). The PIBB provides multidimensional data and decision support for planning and resourcing the key outcomes and aspirations of the different Colleges; from student enrollment and success to research and scholarship. It incentivizes customizable long-term planning for each College that leverages internal investments to diversify the resources of the College and advance unit sustainability. (https://cafm.vt.edu/content/dam/cafm_vt_edu/buspracseminars/2017_seminar/Partnership%20for%20Incentive%20Base%20Budget.pdf)
Led the administrative development of the plans for the integration of the VTC School Medicine into VT and the expansion of the VTC School of Medicine and Research Institute into the Roanoke Health Sciences and Technology Campus centered around an Academic Health Center (https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2016/03/bov-hstdistrict.html). The expansion plans are already creating significant economic development impact and attracting donors (https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2018/12/adv-roanoke-gift.html )
Collaborated with the president and the vice president for Northern Virginia in the development of a plan for the expansion of Virginia Tech in the Metropolitan Washington DC area. The VT Metropolitan Innovation X plan (VT MIX) proposed the creation of thematic collaboratoriums with industry and academia that span research, education and applications. The plan was further developed by faculty working groups to provide the base for the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in the Amazon HQ2 proposal (https://vt.edu/innovationcampus/news/story.html) and the Cyber X partnership
Led the administrative development of the plans for the creation of the College Access Collaborative (https://access.edm.vt.edu/). The collaborative is supported by the State of Virginia and VT, is committed to supporting a more diverse undergraduate student body and seeks to enhance partnerships with communities in low high school attainment and low matriculation to post-secondary education.
Hired four new deans and four new academic vice presidents and achieved a gender balanced academic cabinet for the first time in the history of the institution (https://provost.vt.edu/deans_vps.html)
Collaborated with the Vice President for Administration and Sasaki Associates for the development of the new campus master plan that highlights transdisciplinary districts (https://www.facilities.vt.edu/planning-construction/campus-master-plan/about.html)
Led the administrative development and the launching of the ACC Smithsonian Creativity and Innovation Festival (http://acceleratefestival.com/). The festival is a biannual joint event of all 15 ACC Universities and the Smithsonian that celebrates creative exploration, research and innovation across all disciplines.
Collaborated with the Deans, Chairs and Faculty Senate to create the Collegiate Faculty track for faculty focused on pedagogy. The track offers multi-year contracts and formalized regular reviews for promotion.
Initiated a conversation with Deans, Chairs and the Faculty Senate for establishing a global context for review and support of faculty scholarship. The University community has embraced the conversation leading to steady gains in global rankings. http://www.shanghairanking.com/World-University-Rankings/Virginia-Polytechnic-Institute-and-State-University.html
Secured significant gifts and contracts for the University (see Gifts section of CV)
Vice Provost for Design, Arts and Technology; Carnegie Mellon University (2012-2015)
o Responsible for university wide curriculum and research efforts that focus on new creative industries and integrate technology, arts and innovation expertise. Position reported to the Provost and was part of the Academic Leadership Council (ALC) of the University and the University Promotion and Tenure committee. Position was also responsible for fundraising efforts related to cross cutting creative industries initiatives at CMU (see Gifts and Contracts section).
o Led the development of the Integrative Design, Arts and Technology network (IDeATe), http://ideate.cmu.edu. IDeATe has participation from over 70 faculty from 15 different units. The IDeATe network designed and launched eight undergraduate concentrations on new creative industries themes related to cross-cutting CMU strengths: Game Design, Animation and Special Effects, Media Design, Sonic Arts, Design for Learning, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Intelligent Environments, Physical Computing. The concentrations, open to all undergraduates at CMU, are served by 35 interdisciplinary, studio-based courses that promote learning through collaborative making. Over 400 students are enrolled in IDeATe concentrations. A new facility was created for IDeATe at the central library of the university. The facility includes collaborative studios/classrooms, an interactive media lab/black-box, a physical computing lab, a digital fabrication lab, a sound lab, a portable media check out facility and standard fabrication facilities. Satellite collaborative making facilities are being developed throughout the University including dormitories and other common spaces. The annual budget of the IDeATe undergraduate curriculum is supported 50% through tuition and 50% through external income.
o The IDeATe network also designed the CMU Integrative Media Program (IMP) in NYC at Steiner Studios in partnership with the City of NY (part of the NYC Applied Sciences Initiative). The IMP comprised four inter-related, interdisciplinary Masters degrees: Emerging Media Masters (offered collaboratively by the School of Computer Science, College of Fine Arts and College of Engineering), Masters in Computational Data Science (offered through the School of Computer Science), Masters in Integrated Innovation (offered through the College of Engineering, Tepper School of Business and School of Design), and Masters in Urban Design (offered through the School of Architecture).
o The Vice Provost position also supervised the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC). Founded by Randy Pausch and Don Marinelli, the ETC is a premiere professional center for interactive entertainment with special focus on the art and science of game design and development. The ETC offers a two-year Master of Entertainment Technology (MET) degree that is jointly conferred by the School of Computer Science and the College of Fine Arts.
Founding Director; School of Arts, Media and Engineering (AME); Arizona State University (2003- 2012)
Led the development of the vision, research and education models of the School and the creation of joint graduate and undergraduate curricula with twelve units at ASU spanning engineering, sciences, humanities, arts and design. Let the development and establishment of a transdisciplinary BA in Digital Culture and a PhD degree in Media Arts and Sciences. Oversaw the hiring of 12 interdisciplinary faculty, 10 administrative and technical staff and recruiting of an interdisciplinary student body. The School brought together its highly differentiated participants through transdisciplinary themes relating to media applications in health, education, communication and creativity. The School developed interdisciplinary promotion and tenure criteria customazible to each faculty through an MOU. By 2012, the School had 250 undergraduate and 50 graduate students and an operating budget of $2,000,000 (with $800,000 coming from an endowment). The School produced research expenditures of over $750,000 a year. The founding director led the securing of significant gifts and grants for the realization of the school (see Gifts and Grants sections of CV).
Director, Institute for Studies in the Arts (ISA), Arizona State University (2001 – 2003)
Prepared the evolution of the ISA (a research unit without an educational mission) into the School of Arts, Media and Engineering. Managed the arts and technology research and creative activities and the development/fundraising activities of the Institute. Supervised the financial, infrastructure and personnel activities.
Associate Director, Computer Music Center (CMC), Columbia University (1995-2001)
Director of Research and Development; headed the development of interdisciplinary research and education projects, fundraising and outreach activities and managed the finances
Director, Institute of Psychoacoustics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (1992-2000)
Led the development of the academic structure and research mission of the Institute, and its outreach and fundraising activities. The Institute was a joint project of the Medical School, Engineering School, Department of Music and Department of Psychology. Spent a total of 24 months physically in Greece over the eight years of my association with the Institute with the rest of the work done remotely.
Director, Computer Music Center, Center for Contemporary Music Research (Ianis Xenakis, President), Greece (1991-94)
Developed and taught beginner and advanced courses in computer music; planned, installed and maintained computing and digital audio infrastructure