Dear Members of the Boston University Community,<\/p>\n
I am delighted to announce that Colin S. Duckett has been appointed Boston University’s next provost and chief academic officer, effective July 1, 2026. A distinguished scholar and experienced academic leader, Colin brings the intellectual vision and a record of strengthening research and teaching that will help shape the University’s next chapter of growth and innovation.<\/p>\n
Following a comprehensive national search, Colin quickly emerged as the candidate best positioned to advance Boston University’s academic mission and guide the institution in the years ahead.<\/p>\n
An immunologist and molecular biologist, Colin is an internationally respected scholar whose work in cancer biology and cellular signaling has been cited more than 23,000 times. He was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2023.<\/p>\n
Colin will join us from Duke University, where he currently serves as executive vice dean for basic and preclinical science and senior advisor to the provost on medical school affairs. In these roles, he works closely with faculty, department chairs, and deans to guide strategy, graduate education, faculty recruitment, and academic planning across multiple schools. He serves on the provost\u2019s cabinet and led Duke\u2019s laboratory COVID response.<\/p>\n
At Duke, Colin co-led the Duke Science and Technology initiative, a $100 million effort to expand interdisciplinary collaboration in areas such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence in education, and health innovation. This initiative connects scholars across disciplines to address complex challenges that require multiple fields of expertise. He also led a transformation of Duke’s PhD programs and worked closely with the Duke\u2013National University of Singapore Medical School, strengthening international academic partnerships.<\/p>\n
He oversees the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke Global Health Institute, and Duke Human Vaccine Institute, spanning neuroscience, psychology, engineering, public policy, infectious disease, and global development. Colin is the former director of the Duke Regional Biocontainment Laboratory and leads the national Regional Biocontainment Laboratory network.<\/p>\n
Before joining Duke, Colin served as chief scientific officer of the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, leading the research strategy for one of the nation\u2019s largest nonprofit health care systems. Previously, he spent 15 years at the University of Michigan, where he held several academic leadership roles, including director of graduate studies for the Cancer Biology Graduate Program and scientific director of the North Campus Research Complex. Colleagues across his institutions consistently note his thoughtful approach to leadership, his boundless curiosity, kindness, and commitment to engaging with faculty and academic leaders, and his ability to guide complex conversations with clarity and respect.<\/p>\n
Throughout his career, Colin has worked to address complex institutional challenges and advance academic priorities. These strengths will be especially valuable as Boston University strengthens collaboration across campuses and advances scholarship across the full breadth of the University\u2014from the humanities and arts to the social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and the professions. His background working with government agencies, industry partners, and international collaborators will also support Boston University’s continued growth as a leading research university and global academic destination.<\/p>\n
Colin is deeply committed to education and mentorship. He created a graduate program in cancer biology from the ground up, designing its curriculum and directing its core courses, and has been a strong advocate for expanding opportunities for undergraduate research. He believes that discovery, mentorship, and intellectual challenge are central to a student’s education.<\/p>\n
Colin received his PhD in biochemistry from the University of London and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Chicago. He was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute fellow and later served as section chief in the Metabolism Branch of the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health.<\/p>\n
I look forward to welcoming Colin to Boston University and to working with him\u2014and with faculty, staff, and students across our campuses\u2014to advance the University’s academic mission in the years ahead.<\/p>\n
I also want to express my sincere appreciation to Gloria Waters for her dedicated service as provost since 2024. During her tenure, she has helped guide the University through an important period of transition while strengthening collaboration across schools and campuses. Her term will conclude on June 30, after which she will return to the faculty, where her scholarship and engagement with students will continue to enrich Boston University’s academic community.<\/p>\n
Please join me in welcoming Colin to Boston University and in thanking Gloria for her leadership and service.<\/p>\n
Sincerely,<\/p>\n
Melissa Gilliam<\/p>\n
President<\/p>\n
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