Michael Rao
Encyclopedia
Dr. Michael Rao is the president of Virginia Commonwealth University
, and the former President of Central Michigan University
. He was selected to be the President of VCU in 2009.
From 2000-2009, Michael Rao served as the President of Central Michigan University where he focused on raising academic performance at all levels at the university; he helped to expand research appropriations, improve clinical care, and to strengthen the undergraduate experience. Lastly he also strived to improve master’s and doctoral degree programs.
drugs is published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry. His work continues occasionally with an analytical chemist with whom he examines properties of hyperbranched polymers designed for drug delivery.
He has been an administrator for twenty years. He began his career at an American Association of Universities (AAU) institution. In the private sector
, he served thirty clients in higher education before becoming a dean.
Dr. Rao was assistant to the president at the University of Florida
. He later served as a dean (1992–1994) and as president (1994–1998) of Mission College in California
. He then served as chancellor of Montana State University - Northern
. In 2000 at the age of 34, Rao was chosen president at Central Michigan. Much of his current work focuses on interdisciplinary academic program development, economic development through commercialization of research, fundraising for the university, and outreach to the Central Michigan region.
In 2009 Dr. Rao became President of Virginia Commonwealth University located in Richmond, Virginia.
. He is married to Monica Rao, an artist and graphic design
er. They have two sons, Miguel and Aiden.
Monica Rao served as the University Outreach Liaison at CMU; she is a graduate of an Indian polytechnic university and Central Michigan University.
VCU's official response is below:
Subject: Message from the Rector and President
Date: 11/17/2010
To the University and VCU Health System communities:
Virginia Commonwealth University has been the subject of several local news stories lately. The topic is a personnel matter that unfortunately was played out in public. The work of the university is more important than ever and is our number one priority. We remain committed along with you to providing a quality education for our students, advancing new knowledge through our research, and serving our community and patients with the care and respect that all deserve.
Sincerely,
Panny Rhodes, Rector, Virginia Commonwealth University
Michael Rao, President, Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System
On December 3, 2010 Rao "rescinded the confidentiality agreements he required employees working in his office to sign."
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
, and the former President of Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
. He was selected to be the President of VCU in 2009.
From 2000-2009, Michael Rao served as the President of Central Michigan University where he focused on raising academic performance at all levels at the university; he helped to expand research appropriations, improve clinical care, and to strengthen the undergraduate experience. Lastly he also strived to improve master’s and doctoral degree programs.
Career
Some of his academic work involving phenothiazinePhenothiazine
Phenothiazine is an organic compound that occurs in various antipsychotic and antihistaminic drugs. It has the formula S2NH. This yellow tricyclic compound is soluble in acetic acid, benzene, and ether. The compound is related to the thiazine-class of heterocyclic compounds...
drugs is published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry. His work continues occasionally with an analytical chemist with whom he examines properties of hyperbranched polymers designed for drug delivery.
He has been an administrator for twenty years. He began his career at an American Association of Universities (AAU) institution. In the private sector
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
, he served thirty clients in higher education before becoming a dean.
Dr. Rao was assistant to the president at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
. He later served as a dean (1992–1994) and as president (1994–1998) of Mission College in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He then served as chancellor of Montana State University - Northern
Montana State University - Northern
Montana State University – Northern is a public state university, part of the Montana State University System, located in Havre, Montana. Montana State University – Northern was known as Northern Montana College prior to the restructuring of Montana's public university system...
. In 2000 at the age of 34, Rao was chosen president at Central Michigan. Much of his current work focuses on interdisciplinary academic program development, economic development through commercialization of research, fundraising for the university, and outreach to the Central Michigan region.
In 2009 Dr. Rao became President of Virginia Commonwealth University located in Richmond, Virginia.
Activities & Associations
President Rao is a former member of the Strategic Economic Investment and Commercialization Board, part of a $2 billion job creation plan, and recently was appointed chair of the Measures of Success subcommittee. He also served as director of the Michigan Educational Trust. Rao is a past member of the board of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and serves on committees of the National Association for State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC). He also was a member of a subcommittee of the Cherry Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth. Rao serves as chair of the Mid-American Conference Council of Presidents and has chaired an NCAA Membership Certification Peer Review Team.Family
Dr. Rao is a native of FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He is married to Monica Rao, an artist and graphic design
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
er. They have two sons, Miguel and Aiden.
Monica Rao served as the University Outreach Liaison at CMU; she is a graduate of an Indian polytechnic university and Central Michigan University.
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of South FloridaUniversity of South FloridaThe University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
. - Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of FloridaUniversity of FloridaThe University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
.
Controversy
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 that Rao asks employees who work in his office to sign an unusual confidentiality agreement that bars them from talking about what they observe about him or his family to anyone including "clergy and attorneys, or to any other person not otherwise identified." "Any such violation or anticipated violation" of the agreement would entitle Rao to seek "injunctive relief" in Richmond or Henrico counties.VCU's official response is below:
Subject: Message from the Rector and President
Date: 11/17/2010
To the University and VCU Health System communities:
Virginia Commonwealth University has been the subject of several local news stories lately. The topic is a personnel matter that unfortunately was played out in public. The work of the university is more important than ever and is our number one priority. We remain committed along with you to providing a quality education for our students, advancing new knowledge through our research, and serving our community and patients with the care and respect that all deserve.
Sincerely,
Panny Rhodes, Rector, Virginia Commonwealth University
Michael Rao, President, Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System
On December 3, 2010 Rao "rescinded the confidentiality agreements he required employees working in his office to sign."