Julie Messersmith Named Vice President for Institute Initiatives

Dear Caltech community,

I am pleased to share that Julie Messersmith has joined Caltech as vice president for institute initiatives, as of July 1. Julie joins Caltech after 12 years at Johns Hopkins University, where she held senior roles spanning advancement, research, and university-wide strategy and administration.

This reenvisioned leadership role is designed to be a force multiplier, bolstering the Institute's ability to translate our highest priorities into coordinated, executable action while ensuring strong alignment and momentum across the Institute and JPL and with the Board of Trustees. In this role, Julie will work closely with faculty and administrative leaders to guide cross-institutional initiatives that advance Caltech's mission of fundamental discovery, rigorous education, and transformative innovation in service to humanity. She will serve as a senior advisor, provide executive leadership for the President's Office, and oversee the Strategy Implementation portfolio as it continues to evolve to meet the needs and priorities of the Institute.

Julie brings broad experience and deep fluency across the academic, financial, governance, administrative, and philanthropic dimensions of leading research universities—a comprehensive perspective that will serve Caltech well. An exceptionally collaborative and creative leader, Julie excels at building trust across complex organizations, connecting people around shared goals, and translating ambitious ideas into action. Her boundless energy, intellectual curiosity, and unwavering commitment to institutional excellence will be tremendous assets in our shared endeavor to advance Caltech's highest priorities.

Most recently, she served as chief of staff to the provost and associate vice provost for strategic initiatives at Johns Hopkins, where she partnered closely with leadership, deans, and faculty to advance major university-wide initiatives; coordinated priorities across administration and the academic divisions; supported senior leadership searches and two Board committees; and oversaw the Provost's Office budget, administration, and central teams. She also strengthened collaboration across the university and the Applied Physics Laboratory while forging new external partnerships, including with the American Academy in Rome and the Vatican Observatory.

Earlier in her Hopkins career, Julie served as assistant vice provost for research, where she led university-wide programs that fostered the research enterprise and catalyzed interdisciplinary collaboration. She directed the Bloomberg Distinguished Professorships program—a marquee faculty recruitment and research initiative spanning 130 endowed faculty positions across all 10 academic divisions and the Applied Physics Laboratory—and oversaw research development, research communications, and the university's flagship faculty grant programs, the largest of their kind in the country. She also co-developed Hopkins on the Hill with the federal strategy team, a biennial showcase of federally funded research at the U.S. Capitol.

Julie earned a bachelor's degree in international studies from Pepperdine University, a master's degree in international studies from the University of Denver, and a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University.

I am grateful to Shayna Chabner, associate vice president, strategy implementation, and chief communications and external relations officer, for providing steady leadership of the strategy implementation portfolio during this transition.

Please join me in welcoming Julie to Caltech.

Sincerely,

Ray Jayawardhana

President

Sonja and William Davidow Presidential Chair and Professor of Astronomy