Terri Goss Kinzy

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

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Terri Goss Kinzy

| image = Terri Goss Kinzy.jpg

| caption = Kinzy in 2021

| office = 20th President of Illinois State University

| termstart = July 1, 2021

| termend = February 14, 2023

| predecessor = Larry Dietz

| successor = Aondover Tarhule (Interim)

| occupation = Biochemist, academic administrator

| birth_place = Canton, Ohio, U.S.

| alma_mater = University of Akron
Case Western Reserve University

| children = 2

| module =

{{Infobox scientist | embed=yes

| fields = Biochemistry

| workplaces = {{plainlist|

}}

| thesis_title = Characterization of GTP and aminoacyl-tRNA binding to eukaryotic initiation factor 2 and elongation factor 1

| thesis_url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/303996030/

| thesis_year = 1991

| doctoral_advisor = William C. Merrick

| academic_advisors =

| doctoral_students =

| notable_students =

| awards =

}}

Terri Goss Kinzy is an American biochemist, educator, and academic administrator. From 2021 to 2023, she served as the 20th President of Illinois State University.

Early life and education

Kinzy was born in Canton, Ohio.{{cite web |last1=Coe |first1=Jennifer |title=Meet ISU President, Dr. Kinzy |url=https://www.bnbiz.org/blog/meet-isu-president |website=BN Economic Development Council |publisher=Economic Development Council |access-date=16 February 2023}}{{Cite news |date=2021-09-05 |title=Kinzy ISU |pages=A2 |work=The Pantagraph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109741099/kinzy-isu/ |access-date=2022-09-18}} Kinzy was partly inspired by a high school physics teacher to pursue a career in science.{{cite web |last1=Blystone |first1=Susan |title=History made in Hovey: Scientist chosen as first female president |url=https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2021/09/history-made-in-hovey-scientist-chosen-as-first-female-president/ |website=Illinois State University |date=7 September 2021 |access-date=16 February 2023}}

She completed a B.S. in chemistry, magna cum laude, at the University of Akron in 1985.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-26 |title=Terri Goss Kinzy Named the Twentieth President of Illinois State University |url=https://www.wiareport.com/2021/05/terri-goss-kinzy-named-the-twentieth-president-of-illinois-state-university/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Women In Academia Report}} She was a chemist at BP America in Warrensville Heights, Ohio from 1985 to 1987, focusing on biofuel development. Kinzy completed a Ph.D. in biochemistry at the Case Western Reserve University.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-14 |title=Terri Goss Kinzy named Illinois State's 20th president |url=https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2021/05/terri-goss-kinzy-named-illinois-states-20th-president/ |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Illinois State University |language=en-US}} Her doctoral advisor was William C. Merrick Ph.D.{{Cite web |last=Kinzy |first=Terri Goss |date=2017 |title=Curriculum Vitae |url=https://wmich.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/u1297/2017/Kinzy%2C%20Terri_CV.PDF |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=Western Michigan University}} She was a postdoctoral researcher in molecular genetics at Carnegie Mellon University under advisor John L. Woolford Jr.

Career

She joined Rutgers University in 1995 as an assistant professor in the department of molecular genetics, microbiology, and immunology. She became a tenured professor in 2004.{{Cite news |last=Sobota |first=Lenore |date=2021-05-15 |title=Kinzy to lead ISU |pages=A1 |work=The Pantagraph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109740954/kinzy-to-lead-isu/ |access-date=2022-09-18}} In 2007, she became a professor in the department of pediatrics at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She served as the Senior Associate Dean of the Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences from October 2007 to August 2013.{{cite web |last1=Kinzy |first1=Terri Goss |title=Terri Goss Kinzy PhD |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/terri-goss-kinzy-phd-989b827/ |website=LinkedIn}} That was followed by service as Associate Vice-President for Research Administration from 2013–15.

In 2016, Kinzy became Vice President for Research.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-14 |title=Western Michigan VP Terri Goss Kinzy Named ISU's 20th President |url=https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2021-05-14/illinois-state-university-names-new-president-to-succeed-larry-dietz |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=WGLT |language=en}}

In 2018, Kinzy joined Western Michigan University as its vice president for research and innovation, concurrently holding the rank of professor of biological sciences. As Vice President, Kinzy was responsible for all research operations at Western Michigan, as well as animal facilities, compliance, the university’s Evaluation Center, and technology transfer. Kinzy’s efforts helped lead to a 33 percent increase in external research expenditures from federal grants in just one year.

An internationally recognized researcher, particularly in the field of protein synthesis and drug development, Kinzy has participated in 35 funded research studies, often serving as principal investigator, that received over $9 million in federal and international funding.{{Cite web |last=Kinzy |first=Terri Goss |date=2017 |title=Curriculum Vitae |url=https://wmich.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/u1297/2017/Kinzy%2C%20Terri_CV.PDF |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=Western Michigan University}} She has served on, or chaired, study sections for both the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.{{cite web |last1=Roland |first1=Cheryl |title=Rutgers vice president to take research reins at WMU |url=https://wmich.edu/news/2017/12/44262 |website=Western Michigan University |date=15 December 2017 |access-date=16 February 2023}}

On July 1, 2021, she succeeded Larry Dietz as the 20th president of Illinois State University. She was the first female president of the university. In February 2023, Kinzy resigned from her position as President of the University.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-15 |title=ISU President Terri Goss Kinzy resigns less than 2 years on the job |url=https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-02-15/isu-president-terri-goss-kinzy-resigns-less-than-2-years-on-the-job |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=NPR Illinois |language=en}}

Awards and memberships

Kinzy has earned international acclaim for her research and leadership. In 2016, Kinzy became a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. S

he has also chaired the membership and public affairs advisory committees of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).

She has also served as a member of the Association for Public and Land-Grant Universities Council on Research Executive Committee. In 2003, she was named a Fellow in the prestigious Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program.

In addition, Kinzy was selected for the University Master Educator Guild in 2001.

Further, she has also received the New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research Outstanding Mentor Award and the R. Walter Schlesinger Basic Science Mentoring Award. In a 2022 interview, Kinzy stated that honors like the Schlesinger award are the most meaningful to her, since they recognize her commitment to mentoring.{{cite web |last1=Bersett |first1=Kevin |date=14 March 2022 |title=Scholar-in-Chief: Dr. Terri Goss Kinzy created a legacy in research before becoming ISU's 20th president |url=https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2022/03/scholar-in-chief-dr-terri-goss-kinzy-created-a-legacy-in-research-before-becoming-isus-20th-president/ |access-date=16 February 2023 |website=Illinois State University}}

In 2004, Kinzy was named the Woman of the Year in Medicine for Somerset County, N.J., and was a Crain’s Detroit Notable Woman in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in 2019.{{cite web |title=Terri Goss Kinzy-Notable Women in STEM |url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/awards/terri-goss-kinzy-notable-women-stem-2019 |website=Crain's Detroit Business |access-date=16 February 2023}}

Management style

Kinzy was described by Crain’s Detroit as “energetic, collaborative, and optimistic.” In 2019, the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Western Michigan stated that “Dr. Kinzy recognizes and appreciates scholarship in all its forms.” That same year, the director of public affairs for the ASBMB said Kinzy “is dedicated to informing our public leaders about the importance of research and the training of the next generation of scientists.”

Peers have lauded Kinzy for her communication skills, fundraising ability, and state and national advocacy of STEM and higher education.{{cite web |last1=staff |first1=University |title=Terri Goss Kinzy named Illinois State's 20th president |url=https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2021/05/terri-goss-kinzy-named-illinois-states-20th-president/ |website=Illinois State University |date=14 May 2021 |access-date=16 February 2023}} She has also won praise for her commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Known for her vision and forward-thinking, Kinzy has said that “I do not like to look at where things are as much as looking to the future and contemplating where they could be.”

Kinzy is widely respected for her dedication to student achievement. In September 2021, she said that “you can be just as excited about students winning an award for their scholarship and a faculty member recognized as your own success.”

Personal life

Kinzy graduated from Louisville High School in Ohio in 1980.{{cite web |title=Hall of Achievement Inductees |url=https://www.louisvillecityschools.oh.schools.bz/Content/hall-of-achievement-inductees |website=Louisville City Schools |access-date=16 February 2023}} She was born across the street from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Her father was a used-car salesman, while her mother, a vocational school graduate, worked as a bookkeeper. Kinzy was a first-generation college student.

Kinzy’s husband, Scott, is a chemist. The couple met during their undergraduate days at the University of Akron.

Personal interests for Kinzy include birding and reading science fiction.