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University of Utah
Department of Communication
Brieanna Olds
801-581-6888
bolds@sa.utah.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 3, 2022

 

Dr. Jakob Jensen named New Interim Associate Vice President of Research

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Professor Jakob D. Jensen has been appointed Interim Associate Vice President of Research (AVPR), effective January 24, 2022. Dr. Jensen will assume the role from Dr. Erin Rothwell who is currently serving as the Interim Vice President for Research (VPR). Dr. Jensen brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the U’s research enterprise as both an academic leader and renowned researcher. As interim AVPR, he will oversee the Office of Sponsored Projects, Pre-Award team, Research Education, and Bonderman Field Station at Rio Mesa. 

Photo of Jake Jensen

Dr. Jensen received his B.A from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. In 2011, Dr. Jensen joined the Department of Communication at the University of Utah. He is currently a Professor of Communication and Chair of the University Research Committee. In 2015, Dr. Jensen was appointed as the Associate Dean for Research in Humanities and oversaw seven departments and numerous research centers, programs, and initiatives. Under his leadership, the college has experienced substantial research growth and received funding from notable institutions including the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, American Council for Learned Societies, and more.

In addition to his leadership roles, Dr. Jensen is a prolific researcher and innovator. His research program has published close to a hundred journal articles and won numerous recognitions and awards. Dr. Jensen’s research is focused on how to communicate complex information to non-experts. Over the last decade, he has conducted a series of message experiments examining how to communicate scientific research to the public. Dr. Jensen has received the Golden Anniversary Monograph (twice) from the National Communication Association and is the first-ever communication scholar to win the prestigious New Innovator Grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Jensen looks forward to elevating the U’s position as a leading research institution and providing impactful resources and support to researchers across campus.

Reposted from Erin Rothwell, PhD, Interim Vice President for Research

Last Updated: 2/3/22