Northwestern appoints Renee Gonzales as inaugural Chief Research Operations Officer
Newly created role to enhance operational efficiency and support research excellence
EVANSTON, IL—Northwestern University today (May 16) announced the appointment of Renee Gonzales as its inaugural chief research operations officer (CROO). This role was recommended after the Office for Research (OR) conducted a comprehensive review facilitated by Huron Consulting as part of the University's strategic plan for enhancing its OR. This appointment marks a significant step in Northwestern's commitment to advancing research innovation and operational excellence.
Gonzales, who previously served as a project consultant with Huron Consulting Group and brings more than 23 years of experience in research administration, will begin her tenure on May 20 and report directly to Eric J. Perreault, vice president of research. She will oversee central administrative units within the Office for Research, including Sponsored Research, Compliance, and Finance and Business Operations. She will also foster collaboration with Accounting Services for Research and Sponsored Programs (ASRSP) within the Office of Financial Operations.
"I am honored to serve in the chief research operations officer role at Northwestern," said Gonzales, who has served as assistant vice president for sponsored research at The University of Texas-Austin, as executive director of sponsored projects at MD Anderson Cancer Center and in various research administration roles at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi. "With over two decades of experience managing every facet of the research grant lifecycle and leading significant system transformations in large research and medical organizations, I am eager to leverage my skills to enhance our research operations."
Gonzales says she is committed to fostering a collaborative, innovative environment within OR. "I look forward to working closely with Vice President Perreault and alongside our talented teams within OR and with our partners across the University to provide exemplary and efficient customer service that propels Northwestern to new heights of research excellence and societal impact," she said.
Vice President Perreault expressed his enthusiasm for Gonzales’s appointment. He noted her exceptional performance as a Huron consultant at Northwestern since March 2023, overseeing a broad scope of research administration tasks, notably related to the grants management lifecycle. "Renee’s deep understanding of the research landscape and her strategic vision are invaluable assets to our team," Perreault said. "Her role as CROO will drive greater efficiencies, foster stronger teams across the administration, and support the continued growth and success of Northwestern's research portfolio."
The announcement comes alongside a recent posting to recruit an assistant vice president for sponsored research, a leadership position Gonzales had previously filled on an interim basis as a consultant. Perreault noted that this recruitment effort further emphasized Northwestern's dedication to refining operations and enhancing support infrastructure to bolster customer service.
"By strengthening our leadership team, we will achieve operational excellence and reinforce our commitment to delivering outstanding service to our community,” said Perreault. “These first steps towards strengthening our team place the Office for Research on a trajectory of continuous improvement, ensuring we can deliver the partnership and service befitting of a world-class research institution.”
Gonzales holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
— Matt Golosinski, research communications director