Michael M. Crow became the sixteenth president of Arizona State University on July 1, 2002. An academic leader and educator, designer of knowledge enterprises, and science and technology policy scholar, he is guiding the transformation of ASU into one of the nation’s leading public metropolitan research universities, an institution that combines the highest levels of academic excellence, inclusiveness to a broad demographic, and maximum societal impact—a model he terms the “New American University.” Under his direction the nation’s youngest major research institution and largest university governed by a single administration pursues teaching, research, and creative excellence focused on the major challenges of our time, as well as those central to the quality of life, sustainable development, and economic competitiveness of Arizona and the nation. He has committed the university to academic enterprise, transdisciplinarity, sustainability, social embeddedness, and global engagement, and championed initiatives leading to record levels of diversity in the student body. 

Under his leadership ASU has established more than a dozen new transdisciplinary schools and large-scale research initiatives such as the Biodesign Institute; Global Institute of Sustainability (GIOS), incorporating the School of Sustainability (SOS); Complex Adaptive Systems Initiative (CASI); Flexible Display Center; LightWorks; and initiatives in the humanities and social sciences, including the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict. During his tenure the university has nearly tripled research expenditures, completed an unprecedented infrastructure expansion, and announced the eight largest gifts in the history of the institution, including three $50 million gifts, endowing the W. P. Carey School of Business; Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering; and Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. 

Prior to joining ASU, Dr. Crow was executive vice provost of Columbia University, where he also was professor of science and technology policy in the School of International and Public Affairs. As chief strategist of Columbia’s research enterprise, he led technology and innovation transfer operations, establishing Columbia Innovation Enterprises (renamed Science and Technology Ventures), the Columbia Strategic Initiative Program, and Columbia Digital Media Initiative, as well as advancing interdisciplinary program development.  He played the lead role in the creation of and served as the founding director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, and in 1998 founded the Center for Science, Policy, and Outcomes (CSPO) in Washington, D.C., a consortium of scholars and policymakers dedicated to linking science and technology to optimal social, economic, and environmental outcomes. In 2003, CSPO was reconstituted at ASU as the Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes, based in both Phoenix and Washington. 

In national service, Dr. Crow has been an adviser to the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, and Energy, and various defense and intelligence agencies on matters of science and technology policy related to intelligence and national security. A fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, and member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Council on Foreign Relations, he is the author of books and articles relating to the design and analysis of knowledge enterprises, technology transfer, sustainable development, and science and technology policy.