Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Linda Bixby, PhD, as the University of Arizona’s chief research partnerships officer. Her addition to the Office of Research and Partnerships’ leadership team strengthens our ability to scale the university’s research enterprise and broaden our societal impact.

Dr. Bixby brings more than 35 years of leadership experience spanning government, industry, academia and nonprofits. She joins us from the NobleReach Foundation, where she served as executive vice president for academic partnerships, designing and leading national programs that connect emerging technologies and talent with critical public missions. Her career reflects a strong record of building high-impact partnerships, developing innovation ecosystems and guiding cross-sector strategy. She has also held senior roles in the intelligence community, federal consulting, higher education and corporate environments, positioning her well to navigate the complexities of research partnerships at scale.

In her new role, Dr. Bixby will lead efforts to expand and strengthen the university’s strategic partnerships with industry, philanthropies, national laboratories and community collaborators. She will work across campus to shape high-impact collaborations, support the development and execution of strategic agreements and help advance economic development efforts throughout Arizona. Her appointment reflects our commitment to building a future-focused research enterprise that fosters convergence and accelerates real-world solutions.

Dr. Bixby holds a doctorate in history with a focus on anticipatory intelligence and completed her undergraduate work at the University of Arizona. She is a recognized national voice on the convergence of education, government and industry. Her programs have supported more than 3,000 students in the past year alone and reflect a powerful belief that empowering the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers is essential to solving society’s biggest challenges.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Bixby back to Tucson. Her experience, energy and vision will be invaluable as we continue building a future-focused research enterprise that serves Arizona and leads globally.