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Marymount University has been designated a Research University for 2025, advancing a strategic effort launched in 2019 to become a more research-intensive institution.

The American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation based the classification on Marymount’s performance in 2023, when the Arlington university awarded 63 research doctorates and reported $2.6 million in annual research expenditures.

The designation moves Marymount closer to its long-term goal of attaining Research 2 status. R2 institutions must award at least 20 research doctorates and spend a minimum of $5 million on research annually.

Marymount President Dr. Irma Becerra said the new classification resulted directly from the university’s work toward the goal set six years earlier. She said Marymount remains committed to producing knowledge that benefits society.

The university also expanded its grant portfolio by $6 million in 2024, bringing its overall research portfolio to $21 million. That funding supports work in health care, artificial intelligence, ethics, workforce development and other fields.

Dr. Patricia Heyn, founding director of Marymount’s Center for Optimal Aging, is now serving as interim vice president for research. She succeeded Dr. Rita Wong, who retired after 30 years of work supporting the university’s academic and research mission. Heyn is overseeing efforts to strengthen research infrastructure and widen opportunities for faculty and students.

Grants Fuel Cybersecurity, Health and STEM Projects

A $1.5 million National Security Agency grant allowed Marymount to establish and operate a cybersecurity clinic serving small businesses and nonprofit organizations across the D.C., Maryland and Virginia region. Led by Dr. Diane Murphy, the clinic was designed to help organizations prevent, identify and respond to cyber threats. Marymount was one of four institutions nationwide selected for the funding.

The university was also among 15 institutions to receive an AI Readiness grant through the National Institutes of Health’s AIM-AHEAD program. Dr. Nathan Green is leading the resulting AI Health Equity Lab in partnership with the Center for Optimal Aging and the Center for the Innovative Workforce. The initiative supports interdisciplinary laboratories focused on training, grant writing and AI-assisted health research.

A $1.46 million National Science Foundation award is supporting Marymount’s STEM Scholars Program. The need-based scholarship initiative helps academically promising students continue in biology, biochemistry, computer science, cybersecurity, engineering and information technology programs.

Another $1.2 million grant, awarded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, is funding 84 fellowships for School of Counseling students preparing to work with high-needs populations. Each fellow receives a $10,000 stipend for a two-semester internship in a medically underserved community.

Marymount researcher Dr. Julie Ries has also partnered with the nonprofit Up Ending Parkinson’s to study how rock climbing affects people with Parkinson’s disease. Preliminary findings indicate that climbing can improve motor function, mobility, balance, mental health and quality of life. The research has received national attention, including coverage by “CBS News Sunday Morning.”

In nursing, Marymount’s Malek School of Nursing Professions and Dr. Theresa Gaffney are working with VHC Health on an “Earn to Learn” initiative backed by a $500,000 Virginia Department of Health grant. The program seeks to expand student enrollment, increase faculty capacity and clinical placements, and provide each participant with an RN mentor. Graduates will also gain greater access to nursing jobs in Northern Virginia.

Three Centers Anchor Research Efforts

Marymount’s research program includes three interdisciplinary centers devoted to aging, professional ethics and workforce issues.

The Center for Optimal Aging develops research and solutions intended to improve quality of life and dignity as people age. The Center for Professional Ethics examines organizational integrity, responsible leadership, environmental responsibility and global social justice through research, education and advisory services. The Center for the Innovative Workforce studies workforce education, policy and planning while developing strategies for a resilient and diverse labor force.

Provost Dr. Pamela Slaven-Lee said the Research University classification will help Marymount expand its research operations, involve more students in inquiry and contribute to a broader body of knowledge.

Undergraduate and graduate students can participate in faculty research projects. The university’s Honors Program also places an emphasis on undergraduate research conducted with faculty mentors.

Marymount is a private Catholic, doctoral-granting university and Hispanic-Serving Institution in Arlington. It marked its 75th anniversary in 2025.