Dr. Mark G. McNamee Biography

On August 10, 2001, Dr. Mark G. McNamee began his service at Virginia Tech as the Senior Vice President and Provost. As provost, Dr. McNamee is the university’s chief academic officer responsible for all undergraduate, graduate, research, and outreach programs of the university.

Before joining Virginia Tech he was at University of California, Davis (UC Davis) for 26 years. From 1993-2001 he served as the Dean of the Division of Biological Sciences, an academic unit at UC Davis that administers programs in basic biology involving 120 faculty members, 3,600 undergraduate majors and 450 graduate students. He was the Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics from 1990-1993. Dr. McNamee began his career at UC Davis campus in 1975 as an assistant professor of biochemistry and he was promoted to the level of professor in 1985. His research focuses on the structure and function of biological membranes, with an emphasis on receptors in the nervous system.

Dr. McNamee had a wide impact on UC Davis where close to half the faculty members are involved in life-science programs. He was the coordinating dean for the genomics initiative, which will lead to the recruitment of 25 new faculty members and construction of a $95 million research building. Dr. McNamee also served as campus leader for UC Davis’ partnership with the Jackson Laboratory, the world’s premier breeder of laboratory mice. He was also the chair of the Administrative Coordinating Council for Biological Sciences, which works to enhance overall development of life sciences at UC Davis.

Dr. McNamee received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1968, a Doctoral degree in Chemistry from Stanford University in 1973, and then served two years as a postdoctoral associate at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

During his first year at Virginia Tech, Provost McNamee extended Virginia Tech's efforts to expand research opportunities in biomedical and health sciences, bioinformatics, information technology, and nanotechnology. He also led the effort to restructure the schools and colleges in order to position Virginia Tech for enhanced excellence across the disciplines.