Michael Purcell
Associate Vice President of Research and Partnerships
Executive Director, Office of Research Services
Email: mp@ou.edu
Michael Purcell is the Associate Vice President for Research and Partnerships and Executive Director of the Office of Research Services at the University of Oklahoma-Norman campus. Michael is responsible for ensuring the continuity of daily operations of all pre-award functions related to the administration of sponsored research and creative activities for the Norman campus and related programs on the Tulsa campus.
Michael took over the position on an interim basis from July through December of 2020 before accepting the permanent role after a nationwide search. Michael previously served as a staff attorney for the Board of Regents through the University of Oklahoma’s Office of Legal Counsel. During that time, he advised the Office of Research Services (ORS) with contract review and negotiation, legal analysis, and general advice. His accomplishments while working with ORS as a staff attorney included assistance during several phases of the NASA Geocarb Project and negotiating several master research agreements with Fortune 500 companies. Research awards grew from $97 million in FY2017 to $255 million in FY2020 in part because of his legal review of agreements applicable to such projects.
Before serving at the university, Michael was in private practice at Chubbuck, Duncan, and Robey, specializing in litigation. Michael received his Juris Doctorate in 2011 from the University of Oklahoma, where he also earned a B.B.A. with Distinction in Finance in 2008.
