Arthur Lupia, a respected researcher, educator, and administrator, has been named the University of Michigan’s upcoming vice president for research and innovation, starting August 1. With experience in federal government roles under two U.S. presidential administrations, Lupia is poised to lead U-M’s research efforts across its Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses. His appointment follows his interim role since April 2024, after Rebecca Cunningham’s departure to become the University of Minnesota’s president.
Lupia’s leadership has supported world-class research at U-M, navigating significant challenges to higher education. U-M President Domenico Grasso expressed confidence in Lupia’s ability to enhance the research enterprise, fostering discoveries and economic growth. This appointment will be presented to the Board of Regents at their September 19 meeting in Ann Arbor.
Lupia’s selection follows a national search led by Stephen Forrest, a prominent engineering professor at U-M, with assistance from Park Square Executive Search. “Working with U-M researchers who tackle complex challenges in human health and technology is an honor,” Lupia said. He is committed to advancing the university’s legacy of impactful research.
Since joining U-M in 2001, Lupia has held the position of professor of political science and research professor at the Institute for Social Research. He was named Gerald R. Ford Distinguished University Professor of Political Science in 2020 and has received U-M’s President’s Award for Public Impact.
Lupia joined OVPR in 2022 as the executive director of Bold Challenges, facilitating large-scale research collaborations. In 2023, he became associate vice president for research, large-scale strategies. Previously, Lupia served as an assistant director at the National Science Foundation, enhancing the public value of research.
Lupia co-chaired the Subcommittee on Open Science for the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy from 2019-22, promoting federally funded research access. He is also on the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Strategic Council. Lupia earned his BA in economics from the University of Rochester and his MS and Ph.D. in social science from the California Institute of Technology.
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