Research Infrastructure Assessment
NC State has partnered with Huron Consulting Group to perform a comprehensive, campuswide assessment of our university's research support services.
In October 2025, NC State launched a comprehensive, university-wide assessment of research support in partnership with the Huron Consulting Group. This external engagement marks a critical next step in our ongoing commitment to enhance NC State’s research enterprise — and sustain our trajectory as a preeminent R1 institution.
On this webpage, you’ll find project updates, our project timeline, and information about the representatives from across campus serving on our steering committee, working groups and faculty advisory committee.
Project Timeline
Where We Are Now
We’re currently in the process of gathering and synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data.
The Huron team will use this information to complete a benchmarking analysis against peer and aspirational institutions — and to inform a first report of initial findings. These initial findings will be shared with four core groups that have now been stood up.
Steering Committee: Ensures alignment with project objectives and goals.
- Krista Walton, Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation
- Charles Maimone, Executive Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration
- Ginger Burks Draughon, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Research and Innovation
- Garey Fox, Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Dana Harris, Associate Vice Chancellor and University Treasurer
- Susana Milla-Lewis, Professor and University Faculty Scholar, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; URC Chair
- Lewis Owen, Dean, College of Sciences
- Jim Pfaendtner, Louis Martin-Vega Dean, College of Engineering
- Paola Sztajn, Dean, College of Education
- Nick Thorpe, Director of Research Management, College of Education; RSC Chair
- Cranos Williams, Goodnight Distinguished Professor and University Faculty Scholar, College of Engineering; RLA Chair
Working Group A: Focuses on research infrastructure.
- Harald Ade, Goodnight Innovation Distinguished Professor, College of Sciences; Director, Organic and Carbon Electronics Laboratory; RLA rep
- Patrick Hayes, Director of Research Administration, College of Engineering
- Karen Hollebrands, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, College of Education
- Lex Kemper, Associate Dean for Research, College of Sciences
- Lincoln Larson, Associate Professor, College of Natural Resources; URC rep
- Holly Lipkovich, Director of Research Administration, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Amy Nonino, Director of Research Administration, Office of Research and Innovation
- Heike Sederoff, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and University Faculty Scholar, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; RLA rep
- Kevin Schroeder, Director of Sponsored Programs, Office of Sponsored Programs and Regulatory Compliance Services (SPARCS)
- Justo Torres, Director of Contracts and Grants, Office of Post Award Financial Services (OPAFS)
Working Group B: Focuses on research operations and finance.
- Chris Frey, Associate Dean for Research and Infrastructure, College of Engineering
- Amy Grunden, Interim Associate Dean for Research, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Hector Junco, Assistant Dean of Operations, College of Education
- Eduardo Lorente, Vice Provost for Budget and Business Operations
- Meghan Manfra, Associate Professor, College of Education; URC rep
- Barbara Moses, Associate Vice Chancellor, Office of Finance and Administration
- Amy Parker, Assistant Director for Research Commercialization Programs, Office of Research Commercialization
- Amanda Savas, Assistant Dean of Finance and Business Management, College of Sciences
- Rob Scheller, Associate Dean for Research, College of Natural Resources; RLA rep
Faculty Advisory Committee: Represents the faculty perspective on the project, ensuring that the project’s work reflects the needs and experiences of researchers.
- David Aylor, Associate Professor, College of Sciences
- Justin Baker, Associate Professor, College of Natural Resources
- Andy Binder, Associate Professor, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Lisa Chapman, Professor, Wilson College of Textiles
- Laura DeMarco, Assistant Professor, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Ahmed El-Shafei, Professor, Wilson College of Textiles
- Bonnie Fusarelli, Distinguished Professor, College of Education
- Linda Hanley-Bowdoin, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Aaron Hipp, Professor, College of Natural Resources
- Jianxin Hu, Associate Professor, College of Design
- AJ Jaeger, W. Dallas Herring Professor, College of Education
- Ravi Kulkarni, Associate Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Maria Mayorga, Professor, College of Engineering
- Venkateswaran Narayanaswamy, Professor, College of Engineering
- Rob Richardson, Professor, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Dali Sun, Professor, College of Sciences
- Lauren Schnabel, Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Jeffrey Yoder, Executive Director, Genetics and Genomics Academy (GGA); OUIP representative
Contact ncstate-research@ncsu.edu if you have any questions or wish to provide input.
How We Got Here
On Nov. 6, 2024, a 3D Memo announced that several pilot projects to improve research infrastructure had been approved for implementation in FY 2025. The pilot projects were selected based on recommendations from three task forces — Sponsored Programs, Research Implementation, and Culture, Collaboration and Communication — which gathered feedback from across the university, including but not limited to the Research Leadership Academy, Research Support Council and University Research Committee; all Associate Deans for Research; and the Faculty and Staff Senates.