Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that Lindsay DiStefano has agreed to serve as interim Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, beginning on Oct. 3.

As you know, OVPR is a central hub for UConn researchers across all campuses, including UConn Health. In FY25, UConn researchers expended $380 million, resulting in more than $700 million of economic impact across Connecticut and continuing to establish the institution as the Northeast’s premiere R1 public research university.

Lindsay was appointed to the OVPR as the Associate Vice President for Research Development in 2023. Since then, she has played a critical role in UConn’s research success.

She has navigated several major initiatives, serves as the OVPR’s liaison with governmental relations, and was instrumental in establishing the Emergency Research Grant Expenditure (EMERGE) program, which provides short-term essential support for researchers who have seen an interruption or termination of federal funding due to circumstances beyond control. Lindsay has also worked closely with the Provost’s Office in supporting centers and institutes.

As AVP, Lindsay has been in constant communication with UConn leadership and directed outreach efforts for researcher training and development. She also oversaw the expansion of UConn’s research communications, including the launch of a new website with critical information for investigators navigating challenges to their research.

As interim Vice President for Research, Lindsay will lead UConn’s sponsored programs, tech commercialization, and entrepreneurial research opportunities such as the state’s largest incubator for tech startups. She will also oversee University research integrity and security, in addition to continued oversight of the research development and communication units.

A well-respected and successful researcher in her own right, Lindsay is a professor of kinesiology and the former department head. She also has affiliate appointments in the Department of Public Health Sciences and the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the UConn School of Medicine.

Her research focuses on best strategies to promote physical literacy and reduce the risk of sports-related injuries in children. Her work has been funded by the Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Institutes of Health.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Boston University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Human Movement Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She began working at UConn in 2009.

Please join us in thanking Lindsay for her willingness to step into this role.

Sincerely,

Radenka Maric
Pamir Alpay