photo by: Submitted

Chrissa Kioussi

An Oregon State professor who has been responsible for leading research efforts there has been named a finalist for the open dean position at the University of Kansas’ pharmacy school.

Chrissa Kioussi, a professor and chair of pharmaceutical sciences at Oregon State University, will give a public presentation about her vision for the KU pharmacy school at 4 p.m., Thursday in Room 1020 of the School of Pharmacy building.

At Oregon State, Kioussi is responsible for promoting the research efforts at the College of Pharmacy, and also for advocating for teaching and research needs related to pharmaceutical sciences.

Kioussi also is a researcher who has done significant work in the fields of developmental biology and molecular genetics, particularly related to how various genes and cells can help organs regenerate. Her work has received substantial funding from the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and the March of Dimes.

Kioussi received much of her education in Greece, including a doctorate in molecular and cellular biology from the Hellenic Pasteur Institute, and an undergraduate degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Other finalists announced for the position include: Aaron Mohs, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Theresa Shireman, a health care researcher at Brown University; and David Dietz, a professor and department chair at the University at Buffalo.

KU expects to announce an additional finalist in the coming days. The name of that candidate will be announced a couple of days prior to March 13, when the finalist is scheduled to make a public presentation.

The dean position is open after past pharmacy dean Ron Ragan resigned in May. Ragan stepped down from the leadership position to return to his appointment as a tenured professor within KU’s School of Pharmacy.