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Provost Russell Moore today announced that Terri Fiez, vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes, will retire on June 1.

As vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes, Fiez leads CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Research and Innovation Office (RIO), which oversees research development, research institutes, research administration and partnerships and innovation. 

Moore cited accomplishments under Fiez’s leadership that include: 

• Enabling new levels of impact for research groups, institutes and the research and innovation enterprise, only some of which is reflected in campus research funding—which grew from $425 million in 2015 to $634 million in 2021. 
• Instilling a commitment to serving the campus and facilitating the professional development of its people, leading RIO to further support and expand the success of faculty, students and staff.
• Embedding the spirit and practice of entrepreneurism across the research and innovation ecosystem, advancing the university’s strategic imperatives and increasing the impact of the research enterprise.
• Approaching each opportunity with a spirit of collaboration, including bringing together key collaborators—the research and innovation enterprise, all four CU campuses, the Front Range community, other universities throughout the region, national labs and industry—to enhance the individual and collective success of the campus and region and beyond.

Fiez joined CU �鶹ӰԺ as the vice chancellor for research in September 2015. She holds a tenured position as a professor of electrical, computer and energy engineering. In December 2018, she was also named dean of CU �鶹ӰԺ’s research institutes. Prior to joining CU �鶹ӰԺ, she was the director of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Oregon State University. 

Fiez said she has been gratified by her time leading CU �鶹ӰԺ’s research and innovation efforts.  

“My experience at CU �鶹ӰԺ has been the highlight of my 32-year career in higher education,” said Fiez. “It has been an honor to serve the CU �鶹ӰԺ community. The faculty, staff and students at CU �鶹ӰԺ are incredibly special—with the talent and commitment to achieve anything they envision. I look forward to seeing that capability and mindset continue into the future. The sky is the limit.”   

After retiring, Fiez and her husband, Tim, plan to return to Oregon, where they look forward to enjoying more time with family, including their two sons. Fiez also intends to remain a part of the CU �鶹ӰԺ community by continuing connections with colleagues and friends in �鶹ӰԺ. 

Moore said that later in the spring he would announce an acting vice chancellor for research and innovation who will also serve as acting dean of the institutes, as well as a national search timeline to recruit a successor.

“At this time, I’d like to express my gratitude to Terri for her visionary, energetic leadership, and wish her, Tim and their sons all our best. She will always be a valued part of my leadership team and of our CU family,” Moore said.