Community & Member Engagement
Let’s Talk About Change… We did at VA SIG
Spotlight Story
Special Interest Group (SIG) meetings can act as a low-stakes environment for Research Administrators to gather amongst peers to network, learn, and share ideas. At our last VA SIG meeting, we talked about the changes taking place in the profession, and the increasing resilience and adaption needed to persevere in support of the national research enterprise.
The second annual SRAI Virginia Special Interest Group (VA SIG) meeting took place on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the beautiful campus of the University of Richmond, in Richmond, Virginia.
Research Administrators (RAs) from across the Commonwealth of Virginia gathered for a conference at the University of Richmond’s Jepson Alumni Center. This meeting was the second annual meeting held under the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI) Special Interest Group (SIG) structure. The SRAI VA SIG held its first meeting in 2024 at the University of Virginia. A summary of the UVA meeting was featured in the SRAI Catalyst (see “SIGs: Forging the Future and Acknowledging the Past”). The special interest groups replaced the chapter structure at SRAI in September 2023; Virginia has had an active network of research administrators for over 25 years, gathering annually to learn from each other, collaborate, and network.
VA SIG 2025 Meeting Summary
The 2025 VA SIG meeting centered around the theme of Resilience and Adaptation in Times of Chaos. Keynote speakers, concurrent sessions and activities focused on the theme, given the current state of federal funding for research and the changing policies and regulations impacting universities and colleges in the United States. After welcome remarks by Jessica Guzzo of George Mason University, the VA SIG Chair for this meeting, the overall tone of navigating and coping with change was set with the first activity on the meeting agenda, a mindfulness and stretch session, led by Katie Hans, a certified personal trainer from the University of Richmond’s Weinstein Center for Recreation. These exercises were a great start to the day and a practical takeaway for research administrators to use and bring back to their own settings and workplaces.
The meeting theme continued by an engaging and practical session on adapting to change from University of Richmond’s Assistant Vice President for Foundation, Corporate and Government Relations, Jennifer Stancil. This engaging keynote session, 'Navigating Change and Uncertainty in Research Administration,' was based on concepts from Ms. Stancil's work in corporate and foundation relations. It was rooted in the idea of adapting to situations and change, migrating ways of thinking and practices to mitigate stagnation or the risk of 'perishing' as an entity, practice, or individual. Invariably in the face of change, roles and practices have to adapt and morph to be responsive to challenges. The goal of the session was to help attendees reflect on their roles in research administration, often mired in details, and how their roles contribute to the larger research enterprise. The session focused on the idea of stepping back to see how their metaphorical tree fits into the broader context of the forest, and more importantly to communicate their value in the process. The session was invigorating and eye opening, giving attendees, many of whom have been dealing with funding uncertainty, the time and space to reflect on the importance of their work. That the work of research administrators and researchers is important is a great lesson for these changing times.
Concurrent sessions, lightning talks, and roundtable discussions continued the programming for the day. Topics included creating and managing resources for new faculty, preparing and delivering conference presentations, conducting research administration in times of uncertainty, and managing and adapting to change. The closing keynote included an interactive session by a motivational coach and stand-up comic, James Wasilewski, who shared how to thrive with change using improvisational and “yes and” techniques to help research administrators adapt to ever-changing environments and situations. Ending on this positive and high note provided a fitting coda to an engaging day.
As it has been customary in previous meetings to tour the host campus, on July 17, the VA SIG meeting included a tour of the University of Richmond (UofR) Campus, the Modlin Center for the Arts, the Student Center, and the Wellness Center and Salt Therapy Room. This optional activity and networking day concluded with a dinner and social hour at a local restaurant.
Benefits of the SIG Meeting and Member Development
Attendees were pleased with the programming and location of the meeting as evidenced by the scores on concurrent session feedback, feedback comments, and committee debrief feedback about the meeting. Forty-eight (48) registrants, keynotes, and invited speakers enjoyed a great day of programming and engagement at the 2025 edition of the VA SIG. Considering what has occurred to university funding, budgets, and personnel in the past twelve months, the attendance was on point and comparable to the VA SIG meeting at UVA in 2024 (n = 50). Attendance at the UofR meeting was in question because of challenges being faced by universities, many of which have reduced their professional development budgets. All things considered, the organizing committee was happy with the final attendance and with the meeting. By all accounts and from the meeting feedback, the 2025 VA SIG meeting at UofR was a great success, not the least of which resulted in developing new engagement and new members for the society.
Firstly, twenty-nine percent (29% = 14/48) of the registrants indicated it was their first time at a chapter or SIG meeting. Secondly, new members were added to SRAI. The research administration staff at University of Richmond all became new members of SRAI under a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI) membership. This accounted for three or four new members and attendees to the meeting. As a third example of member engagement and development, two attendees at the meeting organized, developed, and presented a concurrent session at the University of Richmond meeting, having previously only attended the VA SIG meeting at University of Virginia in 2024. One of these new presenters also held a current topics roundtable discussion entitled “Fresh Perspectives from People New to the Field” as part of the programming. In addition to the affordability, this underscores a key benefit of SIG meetings: they provide a low-stakes, highly supportive environment that encourages new and junior members to become actively involved in the profession, build confidence, and develop presentation and leadership skills.
Looking Ahead
Plans and discussions are underway for a meeting next year in the summer of 2026 to be held in the Williamsburg-Hampton Roads, southern Virginia region. Meetings had been held in this region in the past when chapters were active but not since the special interest group structure was formed. The benefits of the SIG meetings continue to be clear by providing a low stakes forum for new and junior members of the profession to network, experience a professional conference or meeting setting, increase or improve presentations skills, gain confidence in their professional practice and by learning from peers and mentors alike. Strained budgets and cost continue to be a challenge but the SIG meetings provide a budget friendlier alternative for professional development. We look forward to the success of SIGs as a professional development gateway and a vehicle for skill building that continues to section and national settings. See you at the next one!