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Dr. Victor McCrary Named One of Four New Members Tasked with Establishing Policies for the National Science Foundation
BALTIMORE — The White House has announced the appointment of Morgan State University’s Victor R. McCrary, Ph.D., to the National Science Board (NSB). Dr. McCrary is in good company as one of four new board selections that also include W. Kent Fuchs, president of the University of Florida; Emilio F. Moran, a John A. Hannah distinguished professor at Michigan State University’s Center for Global Change and Earth Observations; and Julia M. Phillips, director emeritus at Sandia National Laboratories. President Barack Obama appointed the new members to six-year terms on the NSB. Each may be reappointed for a second six-year term.
“I am thrilled to welcome this diverse and accomplished group of individuals to the Board,” said Maria Zuber, NSB chair. “The breadth and variety of knowledge and expertise in this class is more than we could have asked for. I am confident that their collective expertise across the natural and social sciences, and their management experiences, will allow us to accomplish many great things.”
The four new appointees join a board of 25 members tasked with establishing National Science Foundation (NSF) policies that coincide with a framework set forth by the president and Congress and with promoting research and education in science and engineering. The members are drawn from industries and universities representing a variety of science and engineering disciplines. Dr. McCrary will be the only member affiliated with an HBCU or any other institution of higher education in Maryland.
“Congratulations to Dr. McCrary on being bestowed this great honor by our nation’s president. We are very proud of him and pleased about his selection and the positive attention it brings to this university,” said Morgan President David Wilson. “This appointment is a testament to his acumen in the field of research and development as well as the fine work he does on behalf of Morgan.”
“I am humbled by this honor, and I look forward to serving our nation,” said Dr. McCrary. “This appointment greatly increases the visibility for Morgan State University and the value proposition that other minority-serving research institutions across the country bring to the national discussion on science and science policy.”
Dr. McCrary is vice president for Morgan’s Division of Research and Economic Development. Before taking his position at Morgan, he was the business area executive for science and technology at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, managing technology investment strategies for more than $60 million in internal research and development projects targeting the areas of national defense and national security. Dr. McCrary was also a division chief at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, where he received the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Gold Medal for facilitating and developing the first global industry standard for e-books. He has published more than 60 articles and is a Fellow of the American Chemical Society.
The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, which created the NSF states, “The Foundation shall consist of a National Science Board … and a Director.” Jointly the Board and the Director pursue the goals and function of the NSF, including the duty to “recommend and encourage the pursuit of national policies for the promotion of research and education in science and engineering.”
In addition, The National Science Board has two important roles. First, it establishes the policies of NSF within the framework of applicable national policies set forth by the President and the Congress. In this capacity, the Board identifies issues that are critical to NSF’s future, approves NSF’s strategic budget directions and the annual budget submission to the Office of Management and Budget, and approves new major programs and awards. The second role of the Board is to serve as an independent body of advisors to both the president and the Congress on policy matters related to science and engineering and education in science and engineering. In addition to major reports, the NSB also publishes occasional policy papers or statements on issues of importance to U.S. science and engineering.
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified Doctoral Research Institution offering more than 70 academic programs leading to bachelor’s degrees as well as programs at the master’s and doctoral levels. As Maryland’s premier public urban research university, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. More information about the university is available at www.morgan.edu.
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