Scott Snyder named next VP for Research & Economic Development

Snyder, selected by President Armacost following a national search, will start at UND on Jan. 15

UND President Andrew Armacost has named Scott Snyder as vice president for Research & Economic Development following a national search.

With more than 20 years of higher education experience, Snyder is a supporter of both research and student success. He has focused on building research opportunities for both faculty and students, while engaging industry partners.

“I am very excited to be coming to the University of North Dakota,” Snyder said. “I am impressed with the momentum of the institution, with its focus on discovery, and its commitment to improving lives and improving society. The UND LEADS Strategic Plan was a big draw to me, and I love the focus of the institution on five areas that are critically important for both student and university success. I look forward to working with other university leaders, faculty, staff and students, to grow the research, creative activity and overall scholarly portfolio of the University of North Dakota, and I can’t wait to start.”

UND President Andrew Armacost welcomed Snyder to the campus community, and said his skill set and background will serve him well as he works to advance research goals at UND.

“We are so pleased to have Scott joining our UND community and leading our research division,” Armacost said. “His collaborative leadership approach and personal experiences will undoubtedly catalyze discovery and creative activity in every facet of our campus. As UND continues its groundbreaking work on the national and international stages, Scott will foster a sense of wonder and love of discovery across UND.”

Who is Scott Snyder?

Snyder comes to UND from Idaho State University, where he served for five years as dean of the College of Science and Engineering. During his tenure, he worked closely with regional industry and the Idaho National Laboratory to provide research opportunities for faculty and students and to assist these partners in meeting critical workforce needs through curricular innovation and development. He also served on several advisory boards, including Idaho’s Leadership in Nuclear Energy Commission, the steering committee for the Center for Advanced Energy Studies, the Governor’s Cybersecurity Task Force and the Idaho Regional Optical Network board.

Prior to his work at Idaho State, Snyder was a faculty member in the Department of Biology at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, becoming a full professor as he mentored students and developed an international research program. During his time at UNO, he served for two years as a program director with the National Science Foundation, where he worked across multiple federal agencies to help initiate the Dimensions of Biodiversity grants program.

Additionally, Snyder served as chief research officer at UNO for nearly eight years. While in this role, he initiated a successful grants program to support faculty-mentored student research and teamed with regional and national partners to develop and fund a number of lasting research programs and centers in areas such as biomechanics and counterterrorism. Additionally, Snyder led federal relations efforts for the UNO campus, served as an advisor to the Strategic Advisory Group of the U.S. Strategic Command, was a board member of the National Strategic Research Institute and was ex officio on the board of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s technology transfer organization, UNeMed.

Snyder earned his doctorate in parasitology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he also earned his bachelor’s degree in biology. His master’s degree, also in parasitology, comes from Wake Forest University.

Snyder will succeed John Mihelich, who was named interim vice president in December 2018.