SDSU Research Foundation Welcomes New Director

Bob Wolfson joined the SDSU Research Foundation as its new executive director on July 29.
 
Wolfson has more than 30 years of experience in business and financial management and recently completed 10 years of service as senior vice president and chief operating officer of the Public Health Institute in Oakland, California.
 
“Bob brings a wealth of knowledge and experience,” said Sally Roush, SDSU vice president of Business and Financial Affairs. “I'm confident he will be a tremendous asset to San Diego State and the SDSU Research Foundation.”

Exciting time

Wolfson arrived on campus just weeks after SDSU’s new president and before the November arrival of SDSU’s new vice president for research.

“It’s an exciting time, and I’m looking forward to both the opportunities and the challenges,” Wolfson said. “The research agenda is important for the university and it’s great to be part of a team that will help facilitate that agenda.”

Wolfson’s first priorities are to meet with the academic community on campus, including deans and principal investigators, and to evaluate the Research Foundation’s strengths and weaknesses to make it stronger and more efficient.

He plans to work closely with the vice president for research and assures that the Research Foundation will continue to provide support and “good customer service” to SDSU’s researchers.

Research challenges

According to Wolfson, increased federal regulation continues to challenge research organizations. As the government imposes stricter regulations on the administration of funding, it is important to put effective compliance systems in place. 

“Both a challenge and a goal of mine is to address customer service to researchers to facilitate their important work, while remaining cognizant of operating in a highly regulated environment. I know our competent Research Foundation staff members are up to meeting the challenge.”

Prior experience

Prior to his work in Northern California, Wolfson served 16 years as executive director of Old Dominion University's Research Foundation and five years as director of business affairs at Eastern Virginia’s medical school.

An active volunteer, he has served on the board of directors and on numerous committees of professional and community organizations and is a founding member of the Virginia Chapter of the Society of Research Administrators. Wolfson has a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Florida.