Provided
Reuben Burch
TCU has appointed Reuben F. Burch V as its new vice provost for research, effective Aug. 1.
The appointment is part of TCU's strategic plan to increase research funding and scholarly productivity in support of the university's national research agenda.
Burch, described as a dynamic and entrepreneurial-minded executive research administrator, brings extensive leadership experience from both higher education and industry to his new role. He will provide vision, direction and strategic planning to advance TCU's research enterprise.
The appointment aligns with TCU's strategic plan, LEAD ON: Values in Action, which emphasizes research, scholarship, and creative activity as one of four main pillars. Burch will report to Floyd L. Wormley Jr., provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, who previously held the vice provost of research role from 2019 until being selected as provost in 2024.
"Dr. Burch has a profound understanding of the research landscape and a career of accomplishments in research funding, interdisciplinary research collaborations and building research capacity at an R1 institution," Wormley said in a statement. "His strengths in program building, leadership, innovation, invention, collaboration, relationship building, strategic vision and process optimization will catalyze our research, scholarship and creative activity."
Burch will oversee the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance and Integrity. He will work closely with the provost, deans, Office of Graduate Studies, University Strategy & Innovation Office, and TCU faculty and staff to expand the university's research enterprise.
Under Burch's leadership, TCU plans to increase research opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students and strengthen collaborative programs and partnerships with institutions, agencies, industry and other organizations. Key priorities include advancing TCU's research infrastructure, implementing new initiatives to increase research support, and promoting the university's research accomplishments to educate the broader community about the value of research.
"This is an exciting time to join the Horned Frog family to redefine the future of research in higher education," Burch said. "TCU's strategic plan reminds us that it's important to 'keep the main thing the main thing.' The main thing for TCU is the students; the main thing for my role is to serve our faculty by providing them with world-class research opportunities and infrastructure from which all student experiences will benefit. I look forward to partnering with the administration and faculty from all colleges to leverage our research and creative activity to address the pressing challenges of our Fort Worth community and beyond."
Burch joins TCU from Mississippi State University, where he served as associate vice president for research, executive director and founder of the Athlete Engineering Institute, Jack Hatcher Endowed Chair in engineering entrepreneurship, and professor of industrial and systems engineering.
He holds a B.S. in computer engineering from Mississippi State, master’s in engineering management in industrial and manufacturing system engineering from Kansas State University and Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering from Mississippi State.