TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Marianne R. Woods has been named associate vice president for research at The University of Alabama. The appointment is effective today.

Woods comes to UA from the University of Texas at Arlington where she has served as assistant vice president for research and director of the Office of Research for the last three years. Nationally known as a research administrator, Woods won the National Distinguished Service Award from the National Council of University Research Administrators in 2002.

“Dr. Woods is one of the nation’s best research administrators,” said Dr. Keith McDowell, UA vice president for research, in announcing the appointment. “She is regularly called upon by federal agencies and groups such as NASA, the United Negro College Fund and the National Council of University Administrators to train other research administrators. Her reputation in Washington will bring instant recognition to The University of Alabama for the quality of administration of our research programs.

“Dr. Woods is also a respected member of the Mexican-American community and will bring new perspectives to diversity to the University,” McDowell added. She has spoken internationally on university/industry partnerships and technology transfer.”

“The University of Alabama is an outstanding institution with excellent faculty,” Woods said. “I am looking forward to growing our research base and working with industry in technology development and transfer.”

Prior to joining the University of Texas at Arlington in 2001, Woods served as director of the Office of Research Administration and Sponsored Projects at the University of Texas at Dallas for 11 years. She headed the Office of University Research at California State University, Long Beach from 1981-1989 and was a grants and contract specialist and lecturer at California State University, Fullerton from 1979-1981.

Woods earned her doctoral degree at Claremont Graduate University in 1984, her master’s degree at California State University, Fullerton in 1976 and her bachelor’s degree at the University of Oregon in 1974. She will receive her Juris Doctor degree from Concord University School of Law in May.

Woods has served on the boards of directors for the Texas Society for Biomedical Research, the Federal Demonstration Partnership, the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA). She is past president of the Texas Technology Transfer Association. She has been involved with numerous national task forces and committees for NCURA. She has published articles, led workshops and given presentations on research administration, writing contracts and grants proposals, university-industry partnerships and related topics.