By Scout Nelson
South Dakota State University has named three finalists for the position of vice president for research and economic development. The role is important because it guides the university’s research work, sponsored programs, research rules, technology transfer, and economic development partnerships.
The three finalists are John Blanton Jr., Thomas S. Risch, and Nicholas Hammond. Each candidate brings experience in university research, leadership, grants, partnerships, and innovation. The finalists will take part in interviews with SDSU leaders, faculty, staff, and other key stakeholders. Each candidate will also take part in an open campus forum that people can attend in person or through Zoom.
John Blanton Jr. has served as associate dean for research in SDSU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and director of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. He has held these roles since 2023. In this position, he provides leadership for a statewide research system with about $61 million in annual research spending and a sponsored research portfolio that averages $27 million each year.
Blanton has participated in 63 externally funded grants and contracts worth a total of $26.9 million. His research has focused on animal health, food safety, meat science, livestock production, and natural resource management. Blanton has also increased research activity in areas such as publications, proposals, grant funding, graduate enrollment, and doctoral programs.
Before joining SDSU, Blanton served as a professor and head of the Department of Animal Sciences at Purdue University. He also held leadership positions at Mississippi State University and worked in contract research and pharmaceutical development. He earned his doctorate from Purdue University and his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from New Mexico State University. Blanton will interview at SDSU September 30-October 1, with his open forum scheduled for September 30.
Thomas S. Risch serves as vice chancellor for research at Rutgers University-Camden. He is the campus chief research officer. His responsibilities include research planning, sponsored programs, faculty support, research administration, student research, interdisciplinary projects, and outside partnerships.
During Risch’s tenure, Rutgers-Camden recorded its two highest annual sponsored-award totals, with more than $24 million in FY 2024 and FY 2026. Risch has authored or co-authored 76 scholarly publications and has served as a principal or co-principal investigator on 57 sponsored grants and awards worth more than $8.2 million.
He previously served as vice provost for research and technology transfer and executive director of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute at Arkansas State University. His leadership experience includes research growth, technology transfer, research compliance, major research facilities, and economic development. He earned his doctorate from Auburn University, his master’s degree from Frostburg State University, and his bachelor’s degree from Stockton State College. Risch will interview October 5-6, with his open forum scheduled for October 5.
Nicholas Hammond most recently served as associate vice president for innovation and commercialization and chief innovation and commercialization officer at Indiana University. In that role, he led innovation and commercialization efforts across the university’s research system. His work included intellectual property, technology transfer, startup development, industry partnerships, and research that moves from the lab toward practical use.
Hammond supported the development of the $138 million IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences, the IU/IBRI Joint Center of Excellence for Point-of-Care Precision Medicine, and several research institutes focused on innovation. He previously served as a senior director and department head at the American Dental Association Science & Research Institute and held executive positions with biotechnology companies and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
His career includes building research commercialization and entrepreneurship programs, developing government and industry partnerships, and raising more than $10 million through grants, contracts, philanthropy, and startup investment. Hammond earned his doctorate from the University of Mississippi and his bachelor’s degree from Butler University. He will interview October 14-15, with his open forum scheduled for October 14.
The open forums give the community a chance to learn about candidate experience and approach. Blanton’s forum is September 30, Risch’s is October 5, and Hammond’s is October 14. The forums are available through Zoom for people who cannot attend.
Photo Credit: south-dakota-state-university
Categories: South Dakota, Education