Dr. Ryan Otter is the Interim Vice Provost for Research and Innovation; in this role, he provides strategic direction for the Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence and leads the completion and implementation of the university’s Strategic Plan to Augment Research and Creative Activity. Dr. Otter joined GVSU in 2023 as a Professor at the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute, where his research centers on the fate and effects of water pollution—including contaminants such as mercury and PCBs. He has built a reputation for fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and student-involved research. He has been a faculty member for 19 years with a focus on student-centered learning, high quality research, and impactful outreach in his community. Over his academic career he has published over 40 peer-reviewed publications and has been the principal investigator of over eight million dollars in funding. Dr. Otter holds a B.S. and M.S. in Zoology from Michigan State University, and earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from Clemson University.