Community & Member Engagement
Agility in Action: A Career Retrospective from R1 Institutions to the Heart of Health Equity
Spotlight Story - Catalyst Quarterly
Agility, purpose, and impact. Moniqua Holton, PMP, LSSYB, reflects on her research administration career—from R1 institutions to advancing health equity at the American Heart Association—through the lens of project management.
As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), the word that comes to mind when I reflect on the phases of my career journey is Agility. From R1 institutions to national public health initiatives, my path in research administration has mirrored the phrases project lifecycle—from initiation to closure—each phase sharpening my tools as a strategic, people-centered leader.
When I joined the American Heart Association (AHA) four years ago as the inaugural National Senior Government Grants Administrator, I could not have imagined how far the journey would stretch—or how full-circle it would feel. I served on the task force that led to the organization’s first centralized grant office—the Office of Funded Programs—and managed its largest and most complex federal awards, including a $32 million national hypertension control initiative launched during the global pandemic. With 100 team members, the initiative spanned the U.S. and territories, including the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. I even spoke before more than 2,000 staff members on AHA’s Courageous Conversations platform, advocating health equity and research access.
Initiation Phase – From Curiosity to Commitment
Twelve years ago, my affinity for finance became the bridge to a rewarding career in research administration. At the University of Miami’s Finance & Treasury division, I led supply chain management and reconciliations across sixteen clinical units. While I thrived in the fast-paced, patient-centered environment, I longed for a more mission-driven challenge. When the opportunity to join the Office of Research Administration (ORA) arose, I feared the pace would slow. (Spoiler: it didn’t.) That transition marked the initiation of a journey where strategy, compliance, and purpose intersected.
Planning Phase – Designing a Research Foundation
Over nearly five years in UM’s central ORA, I developed a bird’s-eye view of the research enterprise. I led financial mapping for all sponsored research accounts, monitored policy shifts, and ensured audit readiness, and supported university-wide Enterprise Resource Planning and financial system implementations. I collaborated cross-functionally to align teams and processes. Each account became a blueprint; every system an opportunity to grow.
Execution & Monitoring – Scaling Strategy at Emory
In 2019, I took a leap of faith and relocated to Atlanta to join Emory University, supporting the Winship Cancer Institute—Georgia’s only NIH NCI-designated center. I was assigned an NIH P50 on my first day and quickly embraced Agile thinking: scoping deliverables, identifying risks, and aligning stakeholders. Within a year, I submitted two P50s, became a training grant SME, and co-led institutional knowledge-sharing—all while navigating the decentralized infrastructure.
Closure Phase – The Power of Pause
As I close this iteration of my career, I’ve come to realize that closure isn’t an end—it’s a transformation. The systems I’ve built, the strategies I’ve led, and the public health goals I’ve aligned with federal funding have deepened my resolve to give back. Through public speaking, mentorship, and consulting, I remain dedicated to advancing research and health equity.
If your career were a project, what phase would you be in—and how will you iterate forward?
Let’s connect, collaborate, and champion the next generation of research project leaders—together.
With Heart,
Moniqua
Authored by: