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Many Paths Lead to One Goal

There are many paths a research administrator can take on their professional journey—central or departmental, post-award or pre-award, academia or industry, medical or campus-based. Over the past 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing many of these roles.

My career began in pre-award administration at my alma mater, the University of New Mexico. I then moved across the country to Baltimore, Maryland, where I served in various roles at both the University of Maryland, Baltimore and College Park campuses. Life then brought me to Miami, Florida, where I became a consultant with the Huron Consulting Group. When the pandemic reshaped our world, I embraced change and accepted a new role at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where I currently serve as Assistant Vice President of Research Operations.

Since 2014, the SRAI community has been a constant source of professional growth and personal connection. I have presented at both national and section meetings on topics ranging from post-award administration to leadership and pre-award processes. In 2017, I served on the Finance Committee and chaired the Investment Committee. With board approval, we transitioned SRAI’s investments from a passively managed account to an actively managed one—an important step in securing the organization’s financial future. During that time, I also supported the transition to a new Treasurer.

Since 2020, I have been a proud member of the Diversity, Engagement, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force, including serving as a panelist for two Coffee Talks. These experiences have deepened my appreciation for the value of community, engagement and leadership within SRAI.

From 2022 through 2024 I served as Secretary of SRAI. I learned to serve SRAI as a parliamentarian, ensuring board business was transparent to its members.

I am running for President Elect because I want to help lead SRAI through the transformative changes the next five years will bring. The federal government is rethinking how it supports research. Artificial Intelligence is already reshaping our work and will continue to do so. These changes can feel daunting, but I’ve seen our profession adapt and thrive through challenges like sequestration, ARRA, Uniform Guidance, system-to-system submissions, enterprise cloud (Workday, etc.), and, of course, the pandemic.

If elected, I will lead with creativity and integrity. I want SRAI to be proactive in responding to change, to continue strengthening our members, and to remain a vital part of our professional lives. I will be a constructive voice on the Board and work collaboratively with all of you to build a strong and forward-looking future for SRAI.

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