Kenro Kusumi

Kenro Kusumi is the Senior Vice Provost and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU), and holds the rank of Professor in the School of Life Sciences. His academic career includes prior roles as faculty at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he directed pediatric orthopaedic research. He also contributed to launching the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix in partnership with ASU in 2006.

• Education: AB in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard College (1988), PhD in Biology from MIT (1997), and postdoctoral training at the National Institute for Medical Research in London (1998-2000).

Research focuses on genome biology of reptiles, particularly conservation genomics of threatened species like desert tortoises (Gopherus spp.) and functional adaptations in anole lizards. Key projects include sequencing tortoise genomes for conservation and analyzing accelerated evolution in anole lizards' adaptive traits. His work bridges evolutionary genomics with ecological applications, such as studying Baja California Peninsula biogeography and turtle conservation strategies.

Recent publications highlight tail regeneration mechanisms in anoles, geospatial analyses of invasive species impacts, and genomic insights into desert tortoise chronobiology. Kusumi’s research also extends to collaborations on projects funded by NSF and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, addressing aridity tolerance in reptiles and disease ecology of Texas tortoises.

Leadership roles include adjunct faculty at Translational Genomics Research Institute and service on boards such as the Arizona Science Center and Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences. He actively promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion in STEM through mentorship and advocacy initiatives at ASU.