Messages from the Provost

Dear Colleagues,

I am thrilled to announce that Dr. Lucas Macri will become the next Dean of the College of Sciences at UTRGV, effective June 2, 2025.

Dr. Macri holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from MIT and a Ph.D. in Astronomy from Harvard University. Most recently, he has served as the Project Director for the US Extremely Large Telescope Program at NSF NOIRLAB in Tucson, Arizona. In addition, Dr. Macri has held prominent positions at Texas A&M, the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Macri has authored or co-authored 129 peer-reviewed publications, garnering over 24,000 citations. He has also contributed to 32 federally funded peer-reviewed grant awards and delivered more than 200 presentations aimed at expanding the reach of his research and engaging broader audiences through educational outreach.

As we continue to advance the College of Sciences as a cornerstone of research excellence at our institution, we are excited to welcome Dr. Macri to this important leadership role. I am confident that he will thrive with your collective support as we work together to drive innovation and academic achievement.

I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to each member of the search committee, led by Dean Lilia Fuentes, for their unwavering dedication and thoughtful efforts throughout the selection process. The time and energy they invested in this search are genuinely appreciated.

Please join me in giving Dr. Macri a warm UTRGV welcome as he prepares to join our community.