UW-Madison sociologist named to key NSF post

Cora Marrett, University of Wisconsin–Madison emeritus professor of sociology and former UW System senior vice president for academic affairs, has been named acting deputy director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), effective Jan. 18.

Marrett’s appointment was announced by NSF director Arden L. Bement Jr. Prior to her new role, Marrett served as NSF assistant director for education and human resources, a post she has held for two years after her six-year stint at UW System. From 1992-96, Marrett served as NSF’s first assistant director for the agency’s Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences. From 1996-2000, she was senior vice chancellor and provost at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

“I very much appreciate Dr. Marrett’s willingness to take on such an important leadership role for the foundation and look forward to the continued leadership and vision she will bring,” Bement says in a memo to NSF staff.

The NSF deputy director is the agency’s second ranking official after the director. The position is held by a political appointee. Marrett replaces Kathie Olsen, who submitted her resignation to the outgoing Bush administration and was reassigned to another position in NSF.