Michael Crow

Biography

Michael M. Crow became the 16th president of Arizona State University (ASU) on July 1, 2002. He is guiding the transformation of ASU into one of the nation's leading public metropolitan research universities — one that is directly engaged in the economic, social and cultural vitality of its region. Under his direction, the university pursues teaching, research and creative excellence, focused on the major challenges and questions of our time as well as those central to the building of a sustainable environment and economy for Arizona. He has committed the university to global engagement and to setting a new standard for public service.

Since Dr. Crow took office, ASU has marked a number of important milestones, including the establishment of major interdisciplinary research initiatives, such as: the Biodesign Institute; the Global Institute for Sustainability; and MacroTechnology Works, a program integrating science and technology for large-scale applications, including the Flexible Display Center, a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Army. Under his direction, ASU has initiated a dramatic research infrastructure expansion to create more than one million square feet of new research space and has announced naming gifts endowing the W. P. Carey School of Business, the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing.

Prior to joining ASU, President Crow was Executive Vice Provost of Columbia University, where he also was a Professor of Science and Technology Policy in the School of International and Public Affairs. As chief strategist of Columbia's research enterprise, he led technology and innovation transfer operations establishing Columbia Innovation Enterprises (now Science and Technology Ventures), the Strategic Initiative Program and the Columbia Digital Media Initiative, and advanced interdisciplinary program development as well. He led the creation of the Columbia Earth Institute (CEI) and helped found the Center for Science Policy and Outcomes (CSPO) in Washington, D.C., a think tank dedicated to linking science and technology to desired social economic and environmental outcomes. In 2003 CSPO was re-established at ASU as the Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes. A Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, he is the author of books and articles relating to the analysis of research organizations, technology transfer, science and technology policy, and the practice and theory of public policy.