SFU’s board of governors has approved President Michael Stevenson’s recommendation to re-appoint Mario Pinto as VP-research for a second five-year term commencing Sept. 1, 2009. During his first term, Pinto "has successfully implemented a strategic research plan that clearly articulates SFU’s academic priorities for the future," says Stevenson. "He has done much to increase SFU’s profile as a major research institution, and has become a prominent and effective voice in advocating for the research interests of SFU and the university sector in provincial and national policy-making circles."