A Broader Mission: Bill Adams Moves to University-wide Research Leadership
For the past several years, Bill Adams has helped keep the many moving parts of Borderlands Research Institute’s (BRI) operations running smoothly. As Associate Director of Operations, he worked to oversee the administrative processes and procedures that support BRI’s research programs.
As of October 2026, Adams is taking that experience to a broader stage.
Dr. Louis Harveson, Vice President of Research and Development at Sul Ross and the Dan Allen Hughes, Jr., Endowed Director of BRI, announced that Adams is stepping into a newly created role as Vice President of Research Administration and Sponsored Programs for Sul Ross State University (SRSU). In this role, Adams will provide operational and administrative leadership for externally funded research and other special projects within SRSU’s new Division of Research and Development. He will also serve as the University’s research security officer, helping to ensure research activities meet compliance and security requirements.
“Bill’s role change is bittersweet. While it’s hard to have Bill leave BRI with all that he’s accomplished in such a short time, we will be gaining a partner for a greater purpose here at Sul Ross,” said Harveson.
Adams started out his career in Wildlife Ecology with a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M, followed by a Master of Science in Natural Resource Management at SRSU, where Harveson served as his graduate advisor and mentor. Adams went on to build a career as a wildlife biologist, including two decades with Texas Parks and Wildlife, before eventually returning to Sul Ross and BRI in 2023.
That return brought Harveson and Adams together again, this time as colleagues. At BRI, Adams became his right-hand-man, helping to manage the operations processes.
“I always saw myself retiring with BRI, but this opportunity means more than just a new title to me,” said Adams. “It’s a chance to help grow research capacity at the University.”
The new role reflects the University’s growing research needs and the increasingly complex administrative requirements. Adams will also focus on building capacity for what comes next. That includes research-related processes, increasing transparency around compliance, overseeing grant proposals and reporting, and supporting strategic initiatives designed to position Sul Ross for new grant funding opportunities. One of his early goals is to finalize the development of a centralized website that efficiently consolidates resources for SRSU principal investigators.
Adams will also help support outreach to faculty to strengthen the University’s ability to pursue external research funding. The goal is to create an infrastructure that helps researchers across SRSU spend less time navigating administrative requirements and more time focused on the work their funding makes possible.
For BRI, Adams’ move is both a loss and an opportunity. While Adams will no longer be at the center of daily BRI operations, SRSU will have a familiar face who understands firsthand what researchers need to successfully move work forward.
