M. Cynthia Logsdon PhD, WHNP-BC, FAAN

Dr. M. Cynthia Logsdon, Associate Vice President for Research & Innovation, leads strategic efforts to attract, nurture and retain world-class research, scholarship and creative talent for the University of Louisville. Logsdon has spearheaded a number of initiatives to further these goals, including the launch of new research tools and infrastructure; building a centralized post-doctoral researcher support office from the ground up; and creating professional development programs, such as the Ascending Star Fellows, which provide mentorship and connections to high-performing faculty. These efforts underpin UofL’s research enterprise by fostering growth and collaboration, with the goal of driving work that shifts paradigms and saves and improves lives.                                                

An enthusiastic and strategic research executive leader, an internationally known PhD nurse scientist, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, Dr. Logsdon served as Chair of its Maternal and Infant Expert Panel. Appointed by their Board, she has also served as Co-Chair of the Research Advisory Panelof the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses and as the Co-chair of the Nursing Research Council for Catholic Health Initiatives, facilitating research for the 200 organizations making up this consortium. A prolific author, D. Logsdon served for 5 years as the editor of the international nursing journal, Journal of Advanced Nursing.  Work experience includes over 15 years of research administrative oversight in both academic hospital and university settings. She is widely known for program development/evaluation and mentoring to support successful researchers across all levels. Dr. Logsdon was a member of Association of Public & Land Grant Universities Council on Research, Research Leader Fellows, to develop national chief research officers.