The University was ranked ninth nationally among the top public research colleges in 2004, according to The Center, a Florida-based enterprise that ranks research universities. The Center uses nine criteria to rank universities, including federal research, faculty awards and doctorates granted.
"I am delighted that Ellyn Perrone has agreed to join the University of Texas at Austin," said Juan Sanchez, vice president for research. "Ellyn has a distinguished career in higher education, is nationally recognized for her contributions and is deeply committed to furthering research education in the state of Texas."
Perrone said she will focus on raising the University's national research profile while seeking to increase federal funding. She will also mediate between UT researchers and national, state and local agencies.
"I will be working in a positive vein to assure that the University is successful as it can be at a national level," Perrone said in June, when she was appointed.
The Bryan, Texas-native served as vice president for government relations at Ohio State University for the past two years, and vice president for governmental affairs at Texas A&M University before that. She has 15 years in government relations.
"I will be interfacing with federal agencies and Congress as we seek funds to insure that our faculty and students have a quality research experience," Perrone said.
Additionally, Perrone will seek out collaboration with other universities and non-profit organizations to improve research. Perrone gave an example of a possible partnership: "If a professor at Ohio State University who is doing the same research as a professor at UT, why not get them together. That way a Texas congressman and a congressman from Ohio can work together to get the funding."
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