Lidia Kos has been named UC Riverside’s next vice provost & dean of graduate studies, or VPDGS, effective July 15, 2023.

Kos joins UCR from Florida International University, or FIU, where she is a professor of biology, associate dean of the University Graduate School, and associate vice president of the Office of Research and Economic Development.

At UCR, she will lead the Graduate Division, which oversees graduate student recruitment, admissions, academic affairs, employment, and mentoring. The division provides a range of services to support graduate students from the beginning of their graduate career, through the duration of their program and beyond.

“Lidia is an experienced scholar and academic administrator at FIU, which, like UCR, is a large, R1 university that has been recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution,” said Elizabeth Watkins, UCR provost and executive vice chancellor. “Her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion along with her track record in growing graduate programs and securing extramural funding for PhD students at FIU will be assets to the university.”

Kos’ research focuses on the development and pathogenesis of pigment cells. She has extensive experience teaching undergraduate and graduate students in cell, developmental and molecular biology, and has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral fellows in her laboratory. In FIU’s Graduate School, she oversees over 9,000 students in master’s, specialist, and doctoral programs. She is responsible for all academic and administrative matters related to graduate education at FIU.

Born in Brazil, Kos received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and a Ph.D. in neurobiology from UC Berkeley. She was a Fogarty Fellow at the National Institutes of Health, where she did postdoctoral studies. 

Kos, who identifies as a Latina culturally, said her background and professional experience at FIU will translate well to UCR. 

“I am thrilled to be joining UCR as a leader in social mobility and a comprehensive public research university that provides access to education and community engagement to support the state and society as a whole,” Kos said. “I look forward to working collaboratively with stakeholders across campus to create and promote excellence, diversity, equity, transformation, innovation, and a student-centered experience in graduate education.”

Kos succeeds Shaun Bowler, a distinguished professor of political science, who has served as dean of graduate studies since July 2017.