Magesh Rajan, Ph.D., P.E., MBA

Vice President for Research & Innovation

Prairie View A&M University

Dr. Magesh Rajan is a visionary, transformational and inclusive leader in higher-education with over 20 years of progressive leadership experiences in academics, research and business.

Currently, he serves as the Vice President of Research & Innovation at the Prairie View A&M University, a member of the Texas A&M University System. He also serves as the Chief Research Officer, Intuitional Official and Empowered Official. He is a Full Professor of Electrical Engineering. He has been with the Texas A&M University System for over 13 years. Previously, he served in leadership roles as the Department Head with Dean Responsibilities for Electrical Engineering, as an Endowed Chair Professor at School of Mines at SD, and Director of Plasma Research Program at Texas A&M – CC. Dr. Rajan provides leadership in several boards, including the NASA Texas Space Grant Consortium Board, NASA Technology Collaboration Center Board, and Center of Excellence for Advanced Multidisciplinary Projects Board, IEEE – South Dakota Black Hills Section Board, and Del Mar Community College – Engineering Programs Board.

Under Dr. Rajan’s leadership, the Prairie View A&M University has been elevated to R2-High Research Activity institution. He oversees $100 million research enterprise supporting for the university’s 3 campuses, serving 9,000 students and 1,300 faculty and staff’s academic scholarship. During his career, he has raised over $10 million in private funds and led $35 million in grants. He has published two textbooks, five book chapters, and over 100 original research publications.

Dr. Rajan has provided leadership for various areas of academic and administrative offices in higher education. He has led research advancement, sponsored programs, research compliance, export controls, graduate and undergraduate research, Title-III programs, innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship, economic development, marketing and communications. He has initiated several signature programs to strengthen the university. Selected initiatives include RITI training institute, RISE & RAPID programs for faculty and students. As an academic leader he has provided leadership for faculty, staff, and student affairs, building external relationships and fundraising.

He has over ten years of entrepreneurial experience in founding and leading three successful technology-based start-up companies and led R&D, commercialization, and economic development efforts. He oversaw several federally funded interdisciplinary programs through DOD, DARPA, NSF, NASA, and led interdisciplinary research initiatives, and several educational and broadening participation sponsored programs including LSAMP and McNair programs. Dr. Rajan has launched several Diversity, Equity and Inclusion centered initiatives that significantly addressed gaps and improved morale and belonging at diverse institutions (PWI, MSI, HSI, HBCUs). Increased faculty diversity by 50%, supported over 300 underrepresented students, led a staff equity initiative, practiced inclusive and shared governance leadership style.

He received his Ph.D. (U. of Wisconsin-Madison), and MS (U. of Tennessee-Knoxville) degrees in Electrical Engineering, MBA (Texas A&M-CC) in Strategic Management, MLE (Harvard U.) in Management and Leadership in Higher Education. He is a licensed professional engineer (PE) in the State of Texas, a certified ABET National Engineering Accreditation program evaluator, and a Six-Sigma Green Belt license holder. He is a Life Member of the Laser Institute of America (LIA) and the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), and a senior member of IEEE and the Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society (NPSS). He is a recipient of several awards, including the Texas Corpus Christi Person of the Year award and the Texas A&M-CC excellence in research and scholarly activities, research excellence – the wall of fame, outstanding researcher, and excellence in teaching innovation awards. He has led planning, development, and execution of vision and strategic plans resulting in significant faculty research success and overall program growth and national rankings. He has served in several federal and state leveled funding agency panels, including Texas Governor’s Emerging Technology program.