Who We Are
The Research Support Council (RSC) is the research administration staff arm of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation's research committees. Its members represent offices across the University, including SPARCS within the Office of Research and Innovation, Contracts and Grants within the Office of Finance, as well as College research offices, departments, and various centers and institutes. Together, we work to communicate and clarify both internal and external research policies and to address research education needs across the University.
Mission
To support faculty, the University, sponsors and administrative staff through effective, collaborative leadership in implementing sponsored research activities, research administration training and continuous improvement of related practices and processes.
Vision
To cultivate a professional community of research administration staff who work together to facilitate sponsored activities while protecting the interests of faculty, the university and sponsors.
We strive to proactively support professionalism by ensuring effective leadership, training, cooperation and communication for everyone involved in research and its administration, with a focus on the continuous improvement of processes and practices from proposal preparation through final payment and archiving.
Goals
We actively and continually evaluate our progress toward the following goals:
- Foster professionalism through the Research Administration Program Certification and the National Certified Research Administrator (CRA) support programs,
- Strengthen cooperation with faculty, college and university research offices, centers, institutes and laboratories, campus organizational units, and sponsors to support sponsored activities, and
- Provide a mechanism to facilitate effective and efficient communications.
Executive Committee
The RSC Executive Committee is composed of college research office directors, the Director of Sponsored Programs, the Director of Contracts and Grants, the Director of Research Education and Training and other representatives from central offices.
We strive to promote excellence in our profession and to advocate for and guide research administration across campus. In addition, we work to address systemic customer service challenges and to establish or implement methods and procedures that help overcome industry-specific hurdles.
Leadership
- Chair: Nick Thorpe, College of Education
- Co-Chair: Cherie Anderson, College of Natural Resources
- Communications Manager: Sofia Colón, Office of Research and Innovation
Past Chairs
- Missy Thomas, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2023-2025
- Holly Lipkovich, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2021-2023
- Ginny Moser, Integrated Support Services Center (ISSC), 2019-2021
- Kina Morgan, Wilson College of Textiles, 2017-2019
- Tish Attayek, College of Education, 2015-2017
- Brian Thomas (retired), Poole College of Management, 2013-2015
- Rory Loycano, College of Natural Resources, 2011-2013
- Patrick Hayes, College of Engineering, Years: 2009-2011
- Carolyn Bunn (retired), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2007-2009 (Inaugural Chair)
RSC-Exec Members and Values
Unit Directors of Research Administration
- Cherie Anderson, Director of College Research Administration, College of Natural Resources
- Joyce Christian, Director of Research Development, College of Education
- Jennifer Clark, Director of Research Administration, Wilson College of Textiles
- Patrick Hayes, Director of Research Administration, College of Engineering
- Jeneal Leone, Director of Research Administration, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Holly Lipkovich, Director of Research Administration, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Betty Morgan, Director of Research Administration, College of Sciences
- Amy Nonino, Director of Research Administration, Office of Research and Innovation
- Missy Thomas, Director of Research and Center Administration, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Nick Thorpe, Director of Research Management, College of Education
- Elizabeth Walker, Director of Research Administration and Pre-Award, College of Design
Central Research Offices Members (ORI, SPARCS, Contracts & Grants)
- Sofia Colón, Research Program Specialist (advisory group manager), Research Development and Operations
- Ginger Burks Draughon, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Office of Research and Innovation
- Genevieve Garland, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor of Research Operations, Research Development and Operations
- Laura Kroeger, Assistant Director for Strategic Initiatives, Research Development and Operations
- Kyle Mullaney, Director of Research Education and Training, Research Development and Operations
- Pradip Pramanik, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Proposal Development Unit
- Kevin Schroeder, Director of Sponsored Programs, Sponsored Programs and Regulatory Compliance Services (SPARCS)
- Stefanie Saunders, Associate Director of Sponsored Programs, Sponsored Programs and Regulatory Compliance Services (SPARCS)
- Mary Millsaps, Director of Research Compliance, Sponsored Programs and Regulatory Compliance Services (SPARCS)
- Justo Torres, Director, Office of Contracts and Grants
RSC-Exec Committee Values
The research administration community serves customers at many levels, both internal and external. We aim to promote and exemplify a sustainable, ongoing culture of excellence, guided by these core values:
- Excellent Service: Provide knowledgeable, timely assistance to our customers in a friendly and professional manner.
- Teamwork: Support colleagues at every level to achieve high-quality outcomes in both pre- and post-award activities.
- Leadership: Take initiative to deliver competent, timely work with integrity and respect, taking pride in each product from concept to completion.
- Value and Respect: Treat customers and colleagues with courtesy and professionalism.
- Creativity: Demonstrate creativity and flexibility in meeting the goals of our team and our customers.