Biographical Summary
Arthur C. Vailas, Ph.D., became the 12th president of Idaho State University on July 1, 2006.
He came to Idaho State University from the University of Houston (UH), where he held the dual role of Vice Chancellor for Research and Intellectual Property Management of the University of Houston System and Vice President for Research at the University of Houston main campus. He also held a joint appointment at UH as professor of mechanical engineering, and a chaired professor of biology and biochemistry.
Prior to that, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he was professor and chairman of the department of kinesiology, while holding joint appointments in orthopedic surgery and poultry science, and was associate dean of the College of Education. He also maintained a productive research program as director the university’s Biodynamics Laboratory. His academic career began at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was promoted from assistant to associate professor in the division of biological sciences.
An accomplished researcher, President Vailas is the author of numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications, national grants and honors and has held leadership positions on national boards and scientific committees. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa, where he also completed a three-year NIH postdoctoral fellowship in biochemistry and a research fellow in the department of orthopedic surgery. He graduated with a B.S. degree with honors (magna cum laude) from the University of New Hampshire which he attended on a football scholarship.
President Vailas is married to Laura I. Vailas, Ph.D. They have a daughter, Alexandra, who is married to Ryan M. Evjen.