My passion for SRAI began at the first meeting. I had attended other professional meetings but always left wanting a different experience. After my first meeting I knew I had found my professional development home. It was SRAI. This organization and its members have given so much to me personally and professionally. I have served on the SRAI Finance Committee and DEI Task Force. I have attended numerous annual and sectional meetings presenting at most, but also going to learn from my colleagues.
In my first term as Secretary, I learned from my colleagues and the SRAI staff. I learned that the board could have robust debates about the future of SRAI and no matter how we vote we all have the best interest of SRAI in our minds. I want to continue to serve as the Secretary of the board because I want to continue to be a voice for the growth of SRAI as the premier professional organization for research administrators in the US and abroad.
The future of SRAI is bright and full of opportunities and challenges. We have come through the pandemic with a diversified educational program and our membership has rebounded. Leveraging our educational offerings to reach research administrators and expand to faculty and other parts of administration we can continue to grow the Society. We can also ensure we're continuing to excite our members about learning and networking opportunities by holding our meetings in places that our members will find new and exciting.
The challenge we face is that our profession and members are changing in ways we do not fully understand yet. Technology and public policy changes continue to impact our field faster than many members can keep up. This is why SRAI’s educational offerings are so important. They allow research administrators to take knowledge back to their home institutions. Additionally, the demographics of our membership are changing and SRAI is adapting to meet the needs of research administrators from all generations, countries, and backgrounds.
The role of Secretary is to record the minutes and to enforce the debate guidelines (Robert's Rules of Order) during the SRAI board meetings.
I am running for a second term as Secretary because I know I can ensure that robust debates by the SRAI board are conducted fairly. SRAI has helped me grow both professionally and personally. I want to give back. Please consider me for another term as SRAI Secretary.
Authored by Marcos Garza, Assistant VP of Research Operations
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
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