Caltech Appoints Julie Messersmith as Vice President for Institute Initiatives

Julie Messersmith joined Caltech as vice president for institute initiatives on July 1, 2026, bringing more than a decade in senior administrative leadership at Johns Hopkins University to advance cross-institutional initiatives, deepen collaboration, and pursue new opportunities for innovation in support of Caltech’s mission. “An exceptionally collaborative and creative leader, Julie excels at building trust across complex organizations, connecting people around shared goals, and translating ambitious ideas into action,” said President Ray Jayawardhana, the Sonja and William Davidow President