Christopher Morphew, professor and department executive officer for Educational Policy and Leadership Studies, has been appointed executive associate dean for research and innovation at the University of Iowa College of Education. He officially started his new responsibilities on Jan. 1.

This is a recently created position in the college, and Morphew is the first person to fill the role. The executive associate dean for research and innovation will help the college increase its research capacity and contributions to community engagement and economic development.

“I would hope that my efforts would result in, for example, more publications in high-impact journals, greater campus awareness of the college’s research efforts, better connections with local and statewide constituents, and more applications for external research support,” Morphew says.

Nicholas Colangelo, dean of the UI College of Education, is excited about the new position. “Focusing more on research and grants is one of the hallmarks for any top college of education,” he says. “With this new position concentrating on that, it’s going to move us in important directions.”

Colangelo spoke with several faculty and staff members in the college about the creation of this new position. “It was unanimous about how well Morphew would do in this role,” he says.

Morphew, originally from Estherville, Iowa, holds a doctorate in social sciences education and an Master of Arts in sociology from Stanford University. Additionally, he has a Master of Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and government from the University of Notre Dame. Before coming to the UI in 2009, Morphew was an associate professor at the University of Georgia’s Institute of Higher Education.

“I think the UI College of Education is a collegial place and this makes many things possible. We have incredibly productive, world-class faculty and staff members,” Morphew says. “There is no shortage of ability or resources here. I would hope that my work might help the college use these resources in the most strategic way possible.”