Home / Education / Johns Hopkins Provost Moves to Lead Caltech
Johns Hopkins Provost Moves to Lead Caltech
6 Jan
Summary
- Ray Jayawardhana, current Johns Hopkins provost, will become Caltech's next president.
- He starts his new role at Caltech on July 1, succeeding Thomas F. Rosenbaum.
- Jayawardhana is a renowned astrophysicist specializing in exoplanets and star formation.
Ray Jayawardhana, the current provost of Johns Hopkins University, has accepted the position of president at the California Institute of Technology. His appointment is effective July 1, and he will succeed Thomas F. Rosenbaum, who has led Caltech since 2014. Jayawardhana's leadership at Johns Hopkins, beginning in October 2023, has been instrumental in advancing the university's academic and research missions.
Prior to his role at Johns Hopkins, Jayawardhana held significant academic positions at Cornell University and York University in Toronto, where he was dean and professor of astronomy. He is also an active astrophysicist, contributing research on exoplanets and the origins of stars, and is part of the science team for the James Webb Space Telescope's NIRISS instrument.
Jayawardhana's tenure at Johns Hopkins involved bolstering research initiatives through various grant programs and strengthening administrative procedures. He also played a key role in strategic appointments and advancing university priorities in data science and AI, further extending Hopkins' public engagement and creative reach.
