SRAI Coffee Talks

Find out what’s brewing with SRAI’s Coffee Talks! Wherever you are in the world, grab a cup of joe and tune in to these important discussions happening in real time, as complex and multi-dimensional as your favorite blend of liquid energy.

What's Brewing in Research Administration?

SRAI Coffee Talks are virtual sessions where hand-picked experts tackle the burning questions in the field of research management and administration. These one-hour virtual discussions offers a unique space to connect with peers and explore a range of topics—from the bold hot issues in research administration to the earthy yet essential workplace skills. Find answers to your questions, earn a CEU (continuing education unit), and join the conversation!

What's Percolating? Upcoming Coffee Talks

Difficult conversations are a reality of professional and personal life – especially when power, identity, and communication styles collide. In this Coffee Talk, we’ll focus on how to stand your ground with clarity and self-respect while honoring the dignity of others. You’ll learn how to set boundaries, respond to microaggressions or dismissive behavior, and speak up without shrinking or slipping into disrespect.

We’ll explore how culture and power dynamics can influence tough conversations, and practice language for giving feedback, naming harm, and de-escalating tense moments while staying rooted in your values. You’ll leave with practical tools and tips to reaffirm your boundaries and navigate hard conversations in ways that foster respect, equity, and accountability.


Content Level: All Levels


Discussion Leaders:


Rashonda Harris
Research Finance & Compliance Leader
Purple Sheep


Karen Mitchell
SRAI Distinguished Faculty
Director of Special Projects
Temple University

Beverly Morehouse
Senior Sponsored Programs Specialist
Stephen F. Austin State University

Moderator: Lyset Castillo, Research Operations Analyst, Beckman Research Institute City of Hope

Click here to register by February 11

Registration is free for SRAI Members. You need to register to receive the login information. 

Not an SRAI Member?
Review benefits and become a member  

Submit questions for the panel in advance

Presented on behalf of the SRAI Canadian Section

21st century research administrators are asked to be both strategic forecasters and highly skilled operational planners. They must read the shifting winds of the research ecosystem and translate this into actions that strengthen their institution’s research enterprise—positioning it for strategic advantage on national and global stages. Intensifying competition for funding, emerging funders and funding models, and evolving regulatory requirements are but a few examples of the forces reshaping the landscape. 

In this Coffee Talk, our panel of seasoned leaders will highlight the most significant pressures and opportunities influencing Canadian and international research today. They will share how their institutions are navigating these dynamics and intentionally building the capacity needed to “grow” a resilient, competitive, and forward looking research enterprise.


Content Level: All Levels


Discussion Leaders:

Jennifer Freeman
Executive Director, Office of Research Services
Interim Executive Director, ACE Core Research and Testing Facility
Ontario Tech University

Kimberly Read
SRAI Distinguished Faculty
Assistant Chair of Operations
Child & Family Studies
University of South Florida

Sharon Wu
Managing Director
Research Support Services
Vice President Research & Innovation
The University of British Columbia

 

Moderator: Terry Campbell, SRAI Distinguished Faculty,University of Ottawa (Retired)

Click here to register by March 24

Registration is free for SRAI Members. You need to register to receive the login information. 

Not an SRAI Member?
Review benefits and become a member  

Submit questions for the panel in advance

Submit a Question For An Upcoming Coffee Talk

Have a topic or issue you want an expert to discuss in one of the coffee talks in our lineup? You can share them with us in advance!

Ask A Panelist

See what we've covered this past year!

  • CMMC and the Research Administrators: A Conversation with the Experts
  • Navigating the Evolving Workplace in a Diverse Research Administration Environment
  • Achieving Excellence and Driving Innovation in Research Administration: Perspectives from Canada's Up and Comers
  • From Science Policy to Science Diplomacy: Why Does it Matter for the Evolution of Research Administration
  • Mental Toughness in Uncertain Times
  • Get to Know the NIH SuRE Resource Center
  • Developing Department Chair Training to Support a Successful Partnership
  • Accountability in Research (FAIR): A New Model for America's Research Enterprise
  • Europe's Research Agenda and Transatlantic Shifts: What U.S. Institutions Need to Know
  • Advocating for Yourself
  • Finding Your Way Through FAR: A Coffee Talk with the Experts
  • Mentoring: What's it All About?
  • Federal Pulse Live: The Federal Landscape in 2026

Questions?

If you want to learn more about Coffee Talks or have questions for SRAI HQ, do not hesitate to reach out.


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