Terri Goss Kinzy

Terri Goss Kinzy is an American biochemist, educator, and academic administrator. From 2021 to 2023, she served as the 20th President of Illinois State University.

Early life and education Kinzy was born in Canton, Ohio. Kinzy was partly inspired by a high school physics teacher to pursue a career in science.

She completed a B.S. in chemistry, magna cum laude, at the University of Akron in 1985. Kinzy was a chemist at BP America in Warrensville Heights, Ohio from 1985 to 1987, focusing on biofuel development. Kinzy completed a Ph.D. in biochemistry at the Case Western Reserve University. Her doctoral advisor was William C. Merrick Ph.D. She was a postdoctoral researcher in molecular genetics at Carnegie Mellon University under advisor John L. Woolford Jr. In 2007, she became a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She served as the Senior Associate Dean of the Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences from October 2007 to August 2013. That was followed by service as Associate Vice-President for Research Administration from 2013–15.

In 2018, Kinzy joined Western Michigan University as its vice president for research and innovation, concurrently holding the rank of professor of biological sciences.

On July 1, 2021, she succeeded Larry Dietz as the 20th president of Illinois State University.

Kinzy has made significant contributions to the field of eukaryotic protein translation, in particular the essential roles of elongation factors in this process. Kinzy's research showed that elongation factors have additional roles outside of protein synthesis, including in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton.

Awards and memberships

Kinzy has earned international acclaim for her research and leadership.

Personal life

Kinzy graduated from Louisville High School in Ohio in 1980. She was born across the street from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Her father was a used-car salesman, while her mother, a vocational school graduate, worked as a bookkeeper. Kinzy was a first-generation college student.

Kinzy’s husband, Scott, is a chemist. The couple met during their undergraduate days at the University of Akron.