RII Senior Leadership Team
Elliott Cheu, PhD
Interim Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation
- Administrative Support:Jennifer Chamblee
Dr. Elliott Cheu serves as the Interim Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation and Associate Vice President for University Research Institutes. Prior to joining the office of Research, Innovation and Impact, Elliott served as the interim Dean for the College of Science from 2019 to 2021. Dr. Cheu also helped co-chair the 2018 Strategic Planning process for the University of Arizona. From 2008-2019, he was the Associate Dean for the College of Science and in 2017 helped guide the Honors College as interim Dean.
Dr. Cheu came to the University of Arizona in 1996 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics. During his time here he has built a successful research program studying the fundamental particles and forces in the Universe. He continues to pursue his research at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland, where he currently searches for evidence of dark matter.
Sangita Judge, PhD, MBA
Vice President, Research Operations
- Administrative Support:Adriana Sanchez
Sangita Judge is the Vice President of Operations at Research, Innovation and Impact. Dr. Judge has extensive operational and leadership experience. She has a successful track record of driving organizational and cultural transformation in historically conservative educational and clinical settings. She has a PhD in Molecular Cellular Biology/Cancer Biology, a MSc in Microbiology, and a MBA with expertise in basic research, administration, and management. Prior to her current position, she was the Assistant Vice President for Research at the Division of Agriculture, Life & Veterinary Sciences & Cooperative Extension and Assistant Dean, Research for the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences since 2014. Before that she directed the UA College of Medicine Research Office for six years where she developed the basic and clinical research infrastructure.
Kim J. Patten, MS
Associate Vice President, Research Development
- 520-621-5429Administrative Support:Luz Sandoval
Kim Patten is Associate Vice President for Research Development at the University of Arizona. She leads a team of research development professionals supporting faculty in their pursuit of extramural funding from federal, corporate, and foundation (through honors and awards) sponsors. Their work has resulted in more than $700 million in awards to the university since 2014. She advocates a holistic view of research development and the research lifecycle, emphasizing societal impacts of research (e.g., the incorporation and promotion of undergraduate research experiences, core community partnerships, and inclusive practices). Kim currently serves on the National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP) Board of Directors (Term 2022-2026). Before joining the University of Arizona, Kim managed national and international projects and programs in conservation, renewable energy, and distributed data systems. As associate director at the Arizona Geological Survey, she managed and worked with a $30 million research portfolio, including as co-principal investigator on a $3.6 million National Science Foundation (NSF) project and project manager of a $22 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) project. Prior to that, she helped develop the research portfolio of a science-based non-profit organization and secured its first NSF funding.
Lisa Romero
Associate Vice President, Research Communications and Marketing
- Administrative Support:Sam Korns
Lisa Romero leads and manages strategic marketing communications, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement efforts on behalf of the university’s research and innovation enterprise. Reporting directly to Elliott Cheu, Interim Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation, Lisa works broadly within RII and across the entire university to develop and manage an integrated marketing and communications strategy to expand awareness of UArizona’s research impact and thought leadership. She is recognized for her expertise in collaborating across large and diverse enterprises and is highly connected both on campus and among key RII stakeholders. She is a proven brand builder and native Tucsonan, bringing three decades of experience developing and leading teams across academia, scientific, corporate, and non-profit organizations.
Lisa joined UArizona in 2012 at the BIO5 Institute where she built a team focused on advancing brand impact for an interdisciplinary, translational research institute with almost 400 members spanning 75 departments, centers, and institutes across the university. She served as one third of the enterprise wide BIO5 leadership team, and created sustainable, meaningful connections and partnerships across the university, community, and state.
Prior to BIO5, Lisa led communications, marketing, and strategic outreach at organizations both here in Tucson and in Tempe, AZ, including: the Critical Path Institute; the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; RE/MAX All Executives; Tucson Association of REALTORS; Realty Executives of Tucson; Coldwell Banker Success Realty; and Eagle Management Company. She has also served as a consultant to many other organizations and leaders throughout her career.
Peter Reiners
Interim Associate Vice President, Research Centers & Institutes
- 520-621-6254Administrative Support:Yisel Suarez
Pete serves as the Interim Associate VP for Research Centers, Institutes, Museums, and Core Facilities. Prior to joining RII, he served as Associate Dean for Research in the College of Science from 2019-2021, Department Head of Geosciences from 2013-2018, and Dean of Faculty of Environment at the University of Northern British Columbia for 2022. Pete came to the University of Arizona in 2006 and continues to direct or co-direct geochronology and geochemistry laboratories, conduct research across a range of Earth and environmental science, and pursue projects in subsurface processes, cleantech, and resources necessary for mitigating climate change and promoting sustainability.
Carol A. Stewart
Vice President, Tech Parks Arizona
- Administrative Support:Tracy Bibeau
Carol Stewart, a long-standing authority on research parks, is the Associate Vice President for Tech Parks Arizona at the University of Arizona. Carol Stewart leads the UA Tech Park at Rita Road and is developing the UA Tech Park at the Bridges. She is also president of the University of Arizona Center for Innovation, a technology business incubator network serving the University of Arizona, Tucson and international community.
Stewart’s expertise in university research parks spans decades and nations with more than 20 years of experience working with research parks, technology commercialization, business incubation, governmental relations and business development.
As a pioneer in the research parks world, she has driven national policy, standardized programs, created national and international networks, built technology clusters, engaged stakeholders, and assisted countries with the development of their national science and technology policies.
Stewart is passionate about her community and serves as a champion in university-based economic development. She is a member of Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Flinn Foundation Steering Committee, a member of the Canadian Global Mentor Program and she also serves on the Board of Directors for Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce, Pima County’s Workforce Investment Board, Sun Corridor Inc., Arizona Technology Council, Desert Angels, and is a member of the City of Tucson Mayor’s Economic Development Advisory Council.
Doug Hockstad
Associate Vice President, Tech Launch Arizona
- Administrative Support:Linda Portillo
Doug Hockstad serves as the Associate Vice President of Tech Launch Arizona. He joined the UArizona in 2013 initially directing the IP and licensing function, building on more than 25 years of experience in high tech markets.
His career began in the software industry, where he gained experience with both established companies and startups. From there he moved on to tech transfer at the University of Michigan, where his most recent primary responsibility was managing software and other copyright-related intellectual property created across the U of M campus. Doug has also served on the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) Board of Directors, helping to set the strategic direction of the organization.
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