Lillian Eby, professor of psychology, has been appointed director of the William A. and Barbara R. Owens Institute for Behavioral Research. She succeeds Stephen Beach, Distinguished Research Professor in the university’s clinical psychology program, who has served as the institute’s director since 2003.
Eby’s appointment is effective in August.
The Owens Institute, a unit of the Office of the Vice President for Research, fosters interdisciplinary research that addresses some of society’s most pressing needs, including health, family, education, culture and conservation.
“The search committee was looking for someone who would have outstanding leadership skills, excellent organizational abilities and be able to continue the impact of the Owens Institute at the University of Georgia and beyond,” said Gene Brody, Regents Professor of Child and Family Development and director of the Center for Family Research, who chaired the search committee. “In Dr. Eby, we found someone who met and surpassed our expectations.”
David Lee, vice president for research, said, “We look forward to Dr. Eby providing vibrant leadership for the institute, as it is critically important in elevating our behavioral sciences to yet another level. The programs nurtured by the Owens Institute not only attract some of UGA’s largest grant awards on a consistent basis but also make a positive difference in the lives of many individuals in Georgia and elsewhere.”
The Owens Institute includes six centers: the Center for Family Research; the Center for Research on Behavioral Health and Human Services Delivery; the Center for Gambling Research; the Center for Integrative Conservation Research; the Center for the Study of Gene-Social Environment Transactions; and the Center for Contextual Genetics and Prevention Science. It also includes work groups in developing areas of basic social and behavioral science research.
