Kimberly Andrews Espy

{{Short description|American academic administrator and neuropsychologist}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Kimberly Andrews Espy

| image = Kimberly Andrews Espy, Ph.D.jpg

| caption = Espy in 2023

| office = 13th President of Wayne State University

| term_start = August 1, 2023

| predecessor = M. Roy Wilson

| alma_mater = Rice University (BA)
University of Houston (MA, PhD)

| module = {{Infobox scientist | embed=yes

| fields = Neuroscience

| workplaces = {{plainlist|

}}

| thesis_title = Neurobehavioral development in preterm infants prenatally exposed to cocaine

| thesis_url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/304106189/

| thesis_year = 1994

| doctoral_advisor =

| academic_advisors =

| doctoral_students =

| notable_students =

| awards =

}}

Kimberly Andrews Espy is an American neuropsychologist. In August 2023, she became the first woman to serve as president of Wayne State University.{{cite web |last1=Kyaw |first1=Arrman |title=Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy Named First Woman President of Wayne State University |url=https://www.diverseeducation.com/leadership-policy/article/15541677/dr-kimberly-andrews-espy-named-first-woman-president-of-wayne-state-university |access-date=May 2, 2025 |date=July 3, 2023}}

Early life and education

Espy was born and raised in Cincinnati.{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Natalie |title=President Espy celebrates Investiture |url=https://www.thesouthend.wayne.edu/article_d1e432aa-ec76-11ee-a3e3-9f0501280127.html |access-date=May 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250503005526/https://www.thesouthend.wayne.edu/article_d1e432aa-ec76-11ee-a3e3-9f0501280127.html |archive-date=May 3, 2025 |date=March 27, 2024}} She graduated from Cincinnati Country Day School in 1981 and was a National Merit Scholar.{{cite news |last1=Munsen |first1=Rosemary |title=Debs Looking Forward To Gala Season |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-debs-looking-for/171583315/ |access-date=May 2, 2025 |publisher=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=June 1, 1981|via=newspapers.com}} Espy completed a Bachelor of Arts in psychology at Rice University in 1985. Following this, she received a Master of Arts in 1988 and a Doctor of Philosophy in 1994, both in clinical neuropsychology and from the University of Houston. She then became a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona College of Medicine from 1994 to 1996.{{cite web |title=About Kimberly Andrews Espy |url=https://president.wayne.edu/about|publisher=Wayne State University|access-date=May 2, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250402015424/https://president.wayne.edu/about |archive-date=April 2, 2025}} During her studies, Espy's research focused on the impact of cocaine and pregnancy.{{cite news |last1=Jaehnig |first1=K.C. |title=Researchers look at impact of nicotine on babies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-republican-register-researchers-lo/171584287/ |access-date=May 2, 2025 |publisher=Daily Republican-Register |date=August 25, 2003|via=newspapers.com}}

Career

Upon completing her postdoctoral studies, Espy accepted a professorship at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Upon joining the faculty in 1996 as an associate professor, Espy began to study the impact of smoking and pregnancy instead of cocaine. She also led a five-year research project investigating how preschoolers developed self-control.{{cite news |last1=Jaehnig |first1=K.C. |title=Project explores how preschoolers develop self control |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-republican-register-project-explor/171584691/ |access-date=May 2, 2025 |publisher=Daily Republican-Register |date=February 26, 2004|via=newspapers.com}} In 2005, Espy left Southern Illinois University to become the associate vice chancellor for research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL).{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Tiffany |title=Espy offers wisdom on successfully navigating career challenges facing women |url=https://research.unl.edu/blog/espy-offers-wisdom-on-successfully-navigating-career-challenges-facing-women/ |publisher=University of Nebraska–Lincoln|access-date=May 2, 2025 |date=November 6, 2024}} She also served as acting dean of UNL's Graduate Studies and directed the school's Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab.{{cite web |title=Farewell reception for Espy is today |url=https://research.unl.edu/blog/farewell-reception-for-espy-is-today-3/ |publisher=University of Nebraska-Lincoln |access-date=May 2, 2025 |date=June 8, 2011}} In 2008, Espy helped UNL secure a National Science Foundation's ADVANCE program grant to recruit, promote and retain female faculty in the STEM fields. After six years at UNL, Espy became the vice president for research and innovation at the University of Oregon.{{cite web |title=Nebraska's Espy chosen to head research and graduate studies |url=https://pages.uoregon.edu/digital/uonews-archive/archive/news-release/2011/4/nebraskas-espy-chosen-head-research-and-graduate-studies.html |publisher=University of Oregon |access-date=May 2, 2025 |date=April 13, 2011}}

Espy worked at the University of Oregon from 2011 until 2014.{{cite web |title=Vice President Espy to take research position at University of Arizona |url=https://news.uoregon.edu/content/vice-president-espy-take-research-position-university-arizona |publisher=University of Oregon |access-date=May 2, 2025 |date=April 15, 2014}} While at Oregon, she led a partnership to establish the South Willamette Valley Regional Accelerator and Innovation Network and secured its initial state funding.{{cite web |title=Oregon RAIN receives legislative approval, funding |url=https://news.uoregon.edu/content/oregon-rain-receives-legislative-approval-funding |publisher=University of Oregon |access-date=May 2, 2025 |date=July 26, 2013}} In 2014, Espy returned to her alma mater, the University of Arizona, as their senior vice president for research. During her tenure at the institution, she helped establish new interdisciplinary institutes and helped the school gain the designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution from the Department of Education.{{cite web |last1=Robbins |first1=Robert C. |title=Thank you and congratulations to Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy |url=https://president.arizona.edu/news/2018/04/thank-you-and-congratulations-dr-kimberly-andrews-espy |publisher=University of Arizona |access-date=May 2, 2025 |date=April 18, 2018}}

Espy left Arizona in 2018 to become the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). As UTSA, Espy oversaw the establishment of the Najim Center for Innovation and Career Advancement{{cite web |last1=Garza |first1=Jennilee |title=UTSA Receives $3 Million Commitment for Najim Career and Innovation Center |url=https://www.utsa.edu/giving/why-give/impact-stories/utsa-receives-commitment-for-najim-center.html |publisher=University of Texas at San Antonio |access-date=May 2, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207162924/https://www.utsa.edu/giving/why-give/impact-stories/utsa-receives-commitment-for-najim-center.html |archive-date=February 7, 2021 |date=2021}} and the opening of the San Pedro 1 Building, housing UTSA's School for Data Science.{{cite web |last1=Fish |first1=Christi |title=UTSA hosts grand opening of San Pedro I, an epicenter for high-tech education and research |url=https://www.utsa.edu/today/2023/01/story/san-pedro-i-grand-opening.html |publisher=University of Texas at San Antonio |access-date=May 2, 2025 |date=January 9, 2023}} In 2022, she received a Women's Leadership Award from the San Antonio Business Journal for her community contributions.{{cite web |last1=Del Toro |first1=Debra |title=UTSA Provost Espy recognized with a Women’s Leadership Award from S.A. Business Journal |url=https://www.utsa.edu/today/2022/08/story/espy-recognized-by-san-antonio-business-journal.html |publisher=University of Texas at San Antonio |access-date=May 2, 2025 |date=August 9, 2022}}

On August 1, 2023, Espy became the first woman to serve as president of Wayne State University.

= Social engagement =

Espy has served as an Executive Committee Member on the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities councils. She was twice elected as member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy and has served on the Board of Directors of the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protections Programs, the Institute for Research on Innovation and Science, and the Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, reflecting her commitment to impactful research. Additionally, she has had roles in the San Antonio Medical Foundation, Campus Research Corporation, and the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee.