Rebekah K. Hersch, Ph.D.

Education:

• Ph.D., Applied Social Psychology, George Washington University
• MBA, Clinical Psychology, Clark University
• B.S., Psychology, University of Virginia

Background:

Rebekah Hersch, Ph.D., is currently the associate vice president for research innovation, Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Impact, at George Mason University. In this role, Hersch provides strategic planning and active management of the university’s research development and innovation program. In addition, she oversees Mason’s three university-level Institutes, five Transdisciplinary Centers for Advance Study, Criminal Investigations and Network Analysis (CINA) DHS Center of Excellence, Research Development Services, and the Office of Research Computing.

In addition to managing the various institutes, centers and departments within the Research and Innovation office, Hersch works strategically with the Office of Innovation and Economic Impact (also part of ORIEI), Advancement, and Office of Graduate Education to further support the entire research ecosystem and enterprise and make connection across the university and with outside collaborators. She also serves as the Mason POC for the MITRE-UIX initiative, which is a collaboration between MITRE and 10 Virginia Public Institutions of Higher Education.

Prior to coming to Mason, Hersch was a senior research scientist and principal investigator with extensive experience in grant and contract acquisition and the management of randomized controlled trials and multisite national evaluations addressing substance misuse prevention, criminal justice, and health behavior change in a wide variety of settings. As senior vice president at ISA Associates, Hersch was involved in all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the organization.

She is currently a member of the Mentoring Committee for the National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP).