Clark Atlanta University officials announced Tuesday that James Perkins, Ph.D., has been named vice president for research and sponsored programs and tenured professor of chemistry. Perkins comes to CAU with more than four decades of experience in higher education and research. CAU Provost James A. Hefner said the university will be well served by Perkins’ extensive knowledge, experience in research administration and work on public and private funding. “He will pursue opportunities for interdisciplinary research leading to the discovery of new knowledge, business incubations, patents, technology transfer, and community outreach to support faculty and student excellence,” Hefner said.