Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research

Terry Magnuson, Sarah Graham Kenan Professor and founding chair of the UNC Department of Genetics, became UNC’s vice chancellor for research on July 1, 2016. In this role, he leads a campus-wide research program that attracted nearly $1 billion in contract and grant funding in fiscal 2014; connects academic units across campus with university priorities; and manages research support offices as well as 14 centers and institutes.

Magnuson, a geneticist who studies chromatin and gene expression in various diseases, joined the UNC School of Medicine in 2000 to create its $245 million-backed genetics and genomics program. He also directed the pan-campus Carolina Center for Genome Sciences, developed the Cancer Genetics Program within the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and in 2010 was named vice dean for research in the School of Medicine.

He is a member of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine. In 2014, he was appointed to the National Institutes of Health Council of Councils, an exclusive group of the top minds in the nation charged with guiding research projects that transcend the National Institute of Health’s centers and institutes. He’s also a founding member of the International Mammalian Genome Society and has served on the board of directors for both the Society for Developmental Biology and the Genetics Society of America.

Bridget Riordan is the Executive Assistant for the Vice Chancellor. Ms. Riordan is responsible for the Vice Chancellor’s calendar and works closely to help prepare and review presentations, reports and travel coordination.

Jo Ann Gustafson serves as Director of Operations and Senior Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Research. She is responsible for the management of all administrative functions. These include day-to-day management of all activities and procedures and oversight of budget and personnel administration within the organization. Ms. Gustafson serves as the HR Officer for the Research Division.

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Tonya Watkins serves as Director for Research Division Financial Services. She leads the finance, accounting, budget, and financial services operations of the second largest research generating division on campus. She directs the planning of shared financial and research administration services for the research division as a whole, and oversees the provision of these services to OVCR administrative offices, centers, and institutes. Ms. Watkins also represents UNC Research on campus finance committees, and serves as the MOU for the division.

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Leslie Ray supports Associate Vice Chancellor Andy Johns and is responsible for all correspondence and the distribution of information to research senior staff and other administrative personnel.