We’re months into a season of uncertainty—federal funding cuts are reshaping the research landscape, and many of us are navigating what feels like a structural shift, not just a fiscal one. Yet summer offers a moment to pause, step back, and ask not only what do we do next, but what do we stand for? 

For me, research has never been just about the work—it’s about the systems we build. My early background in recreation therapy and public health showed me how much policy, place, and access shape real lives. That’s where I began thinking beyond individual interventions and toward something bigger: reshaping the structures that define what’s possible. 

That mindset still guides me today. At the University of Utah, I’ve seen what happens when we connect knowledge to impact—when research informs policy, fuels industry, and serves communities. But I’ve also seen where we get stuck: outdated processes, siloed thinking, and messaging that doesn’t land with the public. 

This moment—challenging as it is—is clarifying. It reminds us that research leadership isn’t just about budgets or breakthroughs. It’s about relevance. It’s about making the case that public research matters because it solves public problems. 

That’s why I’m proud of the mission-aligned work happening across campus, especially as we respond to H.B. 265 and pursue the goals in Impact 2030. As Provost Montoya recently shared, we are not just reacting—we’re planning deliberately, aligning intentionally, and staying focused on student success, community engagement, and research excellence. 

In research, that means doubling down on interdisciplinary work, aligning with state and national priorities, and investing in systems that support discovery, translation, and impact. It also means telling our story more clearly, boldly, and meaningfully. 

We have work to do—but also momentum, clarity, and a chance to lead. In this season of reinvention, research remains one of our most powerful tools to shape what comes next. 

Erin Rothwell, PhD

Vice President for Research